SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
                       September 27, 2010                 
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
                 Delaware                 
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
               000-21467               
(Commission File Number)
               41-2170618              
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, CA
                              95814                                
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
                     (916) 403-2123                         
 
                                                                                                                                                            
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2.  below):

o       Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o       Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o       Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o       Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 

 
 
 

 
 
Item 1.01      Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
 
Financing Transaction
 
On September 27, 2010, Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with 7 accredited investors (the “Investors”).  Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company agreed to sell $35 million of Senior Convertible Notes (the “Notes”) and Warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase   an aggregate of 20,588,235   shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock), to the Investors in a private offering (the “Financing Transaction”).  In connection with the sale of the Notes and the Warrants, the Company will enter into a registration rights agreement with the Investors (the “Registration Rights Agreement”).  The Company will pay Lazard Capital Markets LLC an aggregate of $2,450,000 upon the Closing in consideration of placement agent services provided to the Company.
 
The following is intended to provide a summary of the terms of the agreements and securities described above.  This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the agreements, each of which is attached as an exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K.  Readers should review those agreements for a complete understanding of the terms and conditions associated with these transactions.
 
The sale of the Notes and the Warrants to the Investors is expected to close (the “Closing”) on or prior to October 11, 2010 (the actual date of the Closing is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”), subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.  The Closing is also contingent upon the Company providing the Investors with satisfactory evidence that the New PE Holdco Acquisition (as defined below) will be consummated upon delivery of the purchase price required in connection therewith.  The Investors may terminate the Purchase Agreement if the Closing does not occur on or prior to October 11, 2010. There can be no assurance that the sale of the Notes and the Warrants will be consummated.  This current report on Form 8-K does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or the Warrants.
 
The full text of the press release announcing the Financing Transaction is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by this reference.
 
Securities Purchase Agreement
 
The Purchase Agreement provides for the sale to the Investors of the Notes and the Warrants for aggregate gross proceeds of $35 million.  The Purchase Agreement contains representations and warranties of the Company and the Investors which are typical for transactions of this type. The representations and warranties made by the Company in the Purchase Agreement are qualified by reference to certain exceptions contained in disclosure schedules delivered to the Investors. Accordingly, the representations and warranties contained in the Purchase Agreement should not be relied upon by others who have not reviewed those disclosure schedules and the documentation surrounding the transaction as a whole.
 
Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the Company will, as of the Closing Date, reserve out of the Company’s authorized and unissued Common Stock a number of shares equal to 150% of (i) the maximum number of Conversion Shares (as defined below) issuable upon conversion of all the Notes (at the Fixed Conversion Price (as defined below) on the Closing Date and without taking into account any limitations on the conversion of the Notes), (ii) the maximum number of Interest Shares (as defined below) issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes from the Closing Date through the fifteen month anniversary of the Closing Date (determined as if issued on the trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date without taking into account any limitations on the issuance of securities set forth in the Notes) and (iii) the maximum number of Warrant Shares (as defined below) issuable upon exercise of all the Warrants (without taking into account any limitations on the exercise of the Warrants set forth therein).
 
 
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The Purchase Agreement contains covenants on the part of the Company that are typical for transactions of this type, as well as the following covenants:
 
·  
The Company will use the estimated $32 million in net proceeds of the transaction (i) for the acquisition of no less than 20% of the equity interests of New PE Holdco, LLC (the “New PE Holdco Acquisition,” which acquisition is described below  under the heading “New PE Holdco Acquisition” ) and (ii) general corporate purposes, but not for (x) the repayment of outstanding indebtedness (other than the repayment of certain permitted indebtedness and any amounts due under the Notes), or (y) the redemption or repurchase of any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (z) the settlement of any outstanding litigation.
 
·  
The Company will not file any registration statement, other than the registration statements the Company is required to file under the Registration Rights Agreement or a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8, until the first date on which the resale by the Investors of all Registrable Securities (as defined below) (i) is covered by one or more effective Registration Statements or (ii) may be made pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (the “Applicable Date”).
 
·  
The Company will not, while the Notes are outstanding, directly or indirectly redeem or pay any cash dividend or distribution on the Company’s Common Stock, without the consent of the Investors.
 
·  
The Company will, for as long as any Notes or Warrants are outstanding, reserve out of the Company’s authorized and unissued Common Stock a number of shares equal to 125% of (i) the maximum number of Conversion Shares (as defined below) issuable upon conversion of all the Notes (at the Fixed Conversion Price on the Closing Date and without taking into account any limitations on the conversion of the Notes), (ii) the maximum number of Interest Shares (as defined below) issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes from the Closing Date through the fifteen month anniversary of the Closing Date (determined as if issued on the trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date without taking into account any limitations on the issuance of securities set forth in the Notes) and (iii) the maximum number of Warrant Shares (as defined below) issuable upon exercise of all the Warrants (without taking into account any limitations on the exercise of the Warrants set forth therein).
 
·  
The Company will not conduct any other securities offerings until the ninetieth (90th) trading day after the Applicable Date , except for certain excluded securities .
 
·  
The Company will offer to the Investors, until the eighteen month anniversary of the Closing Date, the opportunity to participate in any subsequent securities offerings by the Company.
 
·  
The Company will not, while the Notes are outstanding, enter into variable rate transactions.
 
·  
The Company will offer to the Investors, until the later of (i) the eighteen month anniversary of the Closing Date and (ii) no Notes or Warrants remain outstanding, the opportunity to participate in any variable rate transactions.
 
 
 
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The Purchase Agreement also obligates the Company to indemnify the Investors, subsequent holders of the Notes and Warrants and various related parties for certain losses including those resulting from (i) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company, (ii) any breach of any obligation of the Company, and (iii) certain claims by third parties.
 
Senior Convertible Notes
 
The Notes will be issued at the Closing and will have an aggregate principal amount of $35 million.  The Notes are convertible into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $0.85 per share, subject to adjustment as described below (the “Fixed Conversion Price”).  The Notes will mature on the fifteen month anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Maturity Date”), subject to the right of the Investors to extend the date (i) if an event of default under the Notes has occurred and is continuing or any event shall have occurred and be continuing that with the passage of time and the failure to cure would result in an event of default under the Notes and (ii) for a period of 20 business days after the consummation of certain types of transactions involving a change of control. The Notes bear interest at the rate of 8% per annum.  The interest rate is increased to 15% upon the occurrence of an event of default (as described below).
 
Conversion
 
The Notes are convertible at the option of the holders into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a price (the “Conversion Price”) equal to the lesser of (i) the Fixed Conversion Price, and (ii) solely to the extent that (A) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the closing bid price of the Common Stock on the trading date immediately before the date of conversion, (B) the Company has elected to make a principal payment in shares of Common Stock and the date of conversion occurs during the fifteen calendar day period following (and including) the applicable Installment Date (the “Initial Period”), the sum of the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for each of the five lowest trading days during the twenty consecutive trading day period ending on the applicable installment payment date divided by five or (C) the Company has elected to make a principal payment in shares of Common Stock and the date of conversion occurs during the period beginning on the 16 th calendar day after the applicable Installment Date and ending on the day immediately prior to the next Installment Date or the Maturity Date, the closing bid price of the Common Stock on the trading date immediately before the date of conversion.
 
The Conversion Price is subject to adjustment for stock splits, combinations or similar events.  The Conversion Price is also subject to a “full ratchet” anti-dilution adjustment which, in the event that the Company issues or is deemed to have issued certain securities at a price lower than the then applicable Conversion Price, immediately reduces the Conversion Price to equal the price at which the Company issues or is deemed to have issued its Common Stock.
 
If the Company sells or issues any options or convertible securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the shares of Common Stock, including by way of one or more reset(s) to a fixed price, but exclusive of such formulations reflecting customary anti-dilution provisions, the holder of a Note will have the right to substitute the variable price for the Fixed Conversion Price upon conversion of all or part of the Note.
 
The Notes contain certain limitations on optional and mandatory conversion. For example, they provide that no conversion may be made if, after giving effect to the conversion, the Investor would own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99% (which percentage shall be established at the election of each Investor to be made prior to the Closing) of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock. This percentage may, however, be raised or lowered to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% or less than 4.99% at the option of the Investor upon 61-days’ prior notice to the Company.
 
 
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The Notes impose penalties on the Company for any failure to deliver any shares of its Common Stock issuable upon conversion.
 
Payment of Principal and Interest
 
The principal amount of the Notes is to be repaid (i) on the twenty-second (22 nd ) day immediately following the earlier of (i) the day the Initial Registration Statement (as defined below) is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (the “Initial Installment Date”), (ii) then, (x) if the first trading day of the calendar month immediately following the initial Installment Date occurs less than thirty calendar days after the Initial Installment Date, the first trading day of the second calendar month immediately following the Initial Installment Date or (y) otherwise, the first trading day of the calendar month immediately following the Initial Installment Date and (iii) thereafter, the first Trading Day of the calendar month immediately following the previous Installment Date until the Maturity Date (collectively, the “Installment Dates”).
 
The Notes are entitled to interest, amortization payments and certain other amounts, which, at the option of the Company and subject to certain conditions, may be paid in shares of Common Stock (the “Interest Shares”) or in cash.  Interest on the Notes is payable in arrears on each Installment Date.
 
On each Installment Date, the Company shall pay on each Note an amount equal to: (i) with respect to any Installment Date other than the Maturity Date, the lesser of (A) the product of (I) the quotient of (x) $35 million divided by (y) the sum of the number of Installment Dates occurring prior to the Maturity Date, multiplied by (II) the fraction equal to (m) the principal amount of the Note on the Closing Date divided by (n) $35 million and (B) the Principal amount under this Note as of such Installment Date, and (ii) with respect to the Maturity Date, the principal amount under the Note, together with, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), the sum of any accrued and unpaid Interest as of such Installment Date under the Note and accrued and unpaid Late Charges, if any, under the Note as of such Installment Date (the “Installment Amount”).  The Installment Amounts shall be paid in shares of the Company’s Common Stock (subject to the satisfaction on the conditions listed below) or, at the option of the Company, in cash or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock.
 
In order for the Installment Amount to be paid in shares of Common Stock, all of the following conditions must be satisfied at the time of such payment (or waived by the Investors) (collectively, the “Equity Conditions”):
 
·  
The shares of Common Stock issuable under the terms of the Notes and the Warrants are either (i) covered by an effective  registration statement or (ii) are eligible for sale without restriction and without the need for registration under any applicable federal or state securities laws;
 
·  
During  the thirty day period immediately preceding the date of determination , the Company’s Common Stock shall have been listed or designated for quotation on an exchange or market permitted by the Notes, and shall not have been suspended from trading on such exchange or market (other than suspensions of not more than two (2)   days due to business announcements by the Company) nor shall delisting or suspension by such exchange or market been threatened or pending either in writing by such exchange or market;
 
 
 
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·  
During the thirty day period immediately preceding the date  of determination , the Company shall have delivered shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Notes and upon exercise of the Warrants on a timely basis;
 
·  
The Common Stock used to make the payment may be issued without violating the ownership limitations described in more detail below prohibiting an Investor from owning in excess of 4.99% or 9.99% (which percentage shall be established at the election of each Investor to be made prior to the Closing) of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock (which limit may be raised or lowered to an amount not in excess of 9.99% or less than 4.99% at the option of the holder upon 61-days prior notice to the Company);
 
·  
The Common Stock used to make the payment may be issued without violating the regulations of the eligible exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation;
 
·  
During t he entire thirty day period immediately preceding the date  of determination , the Company shall not have publicly announced that certain types of transactions involving a change of control are pending, proposed or intended that have not been abandoned, terminated or consummated;
 
·  
During the  entire thirty day period immediately preceding the   date  of determination , the Company shall not have had knowledge of any fact that would cause:
 
o  
Any effective registration statement required to be filed under the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement not to be effective and available for the resale of the shares of Common Stock required to registered on such registration statement, or
 
o  
Any shares of Common Stock issuable under the terms of the Notes or the Warrants not to be eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws;
 
·  
During the thirty day period immediately preceding the date  of determination , no event shall have occurred that constitutes, or with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute, an event of default under the Notes;
 
·  
The Investors must not be in possession of any material, non-public information provided by the Company, unless such information has been provided in accordance with the terms of the Notes;
 
·  
The (i) volume-weighted average of the Common Stock for each of the five consecutive trading days ending on the date of determination, divided by (ii) five, is less than $0.20 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions); and
 
·  
The aggregate dollar trading volume (as reported by Bloomberg) of the Common Stock on the exchange or market on which it is then listed or designated for quotation over the five consecutive trading day period ending on the date of determination is less than $1,000,000.
 
 
 
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If the Company cannot make Installment Payment in shares of Common Stock because one of the conditions described above is not satisfied, the Company must make such payment in cash.
 
Under the terms of the Notes, the Company shall deliver on the date that is the 21 st trading prior to each Installment Date a notice (the “Company Installment Notice”) to the holders of the Notes setting forth whether the Company will pay all or a portion of the applicable Installment Amount in shares of Common Stock and what portion, if any, of such amount will be paid in shares of Common Stock (the “Company Conversion Amount”). No later than the 19 th trading day prior to each Installment Date, the Company shall deliver to the holder of a Note the number of shares of Common Stock (the “Pre-Installment Conversion Shares”) equal to the quotient of (x) the Company Conversion Amount divided by (y) the lower of (i) the Conversion Price then in effect and (ii) 85% of the quotient of (I) the sum of the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for each of the five lowest trading days during the 20 consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the trading day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Company Installment Notice, divided by (II) 5.  On each Installment Date, the Company shall deliver to the holder of a Note the number of shares of Common Stock, if any, equal to (A) the number of Post-Installment Conversion Shares (as defined below) minus (B) the number of Pre-Installment Conversion Shares issued.  The number of “Post-Installment Conversion Shares” is equal to the quotient of (x) the Company Conversion Amount divided by (y) the lower of (i) the Conversion Price then in effect and (ii) the quotient of (I) the sum of the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for each of the five lowest trading days during the 20 consecutive trading day period ending and including the trading day immediately prior to the applicable Installment Date, divided by (II) 5.  If the number of Pre-Installment Conversion Shares delivered exceeds the number of Post-Installment Conversion Shares, then the excess number of shares will constitute a credit against the number of shares to be issued to the holder of the Note pursuant to any conversion of the Note or any payment to be made in shares of Common Stock under the Note.
 
Events of Default
 
The Notes contain a variety of events of default which are typical for transactions of this type, as well as the following events:
 
·  
Any time after the earlier of (i) the day the Initial Registration Statement (as defined below) is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and (ii) the six month anniversary of the Closing Date, if (x) the Company is not in compliance with the current public information requirements of Rule 144(c) and (y) a registration statement required to be filed under the Registration Rights Agreement is unavailable with respect to the securities required to be registered on such registration statement, and such noncompliance or unavailability continues for five consecutive days or for more than an aggregate of 10 days in any 365-day period (other than certain allowable grace periods).
 
·  
The suspension from trading or failure of the Common Stock to be trading or listed on an eligible market or exchange for more than 5 consecutive trading days.
 
·  
The failure to issue shares upon conversion of a Note or exercise of a Warrant for more than 5 trading days after the relevant conversion date or exercise date.
 
·  
Notification of the Company’s intention not to comply with a request for conversion or exercise.
 
 
 
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·  
The failure for to remove any restrictive legend on any certificate or any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion or exercise required by the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, unless otherwise prohibited by applicable federal securities laws, and such failure remains uncured for five days.
 
·  
The Company fails to consummate the New PE Holdco Acquisition on or before three calendar days after the Closing Date.
 
If there is an event of default, upon election of the holders of at least 20% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes, the Company is obligated to redeem all or any portion of the Notes (including all accrued and unpaid interest), in cash, at a price equal to the greater of (i) up to 125% of the amount being converted, depending on the nature of the default, and (ii) the product of (a) the amount being converted multiplied by the closing bid price of the Common Stock on the trading date immediately before the date of redemption multiplied by (b) the highest closing sale price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the date immediately preceding such event of default and ending on the trading day immediately prior to the trading day that the redemption price is paid by the Company.
 
Fundamental Transactions
 
The Notes prohibit the Company from entering into certain transactions involving a change of control, unless the successor entity is a publicly traded corporation, and the successor assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the other transaction documents and such written agreements are approved by the holders of at least 75% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes prior to the consummation of the transaction.
 
In the event of such a transaction, the Investors have the right to force redemption of the Notes, at a price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (a) 125% multiplied by (b) the amount being redeemed, (ii) the product of (m) the amount being redeemed multiplied by (n) the quotient of (A) the highest closing sale price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the date immediately preceding the earlier to occur of (q) the consummation of the change of control and (r) the public announcement of the change of control and ending on the trading day immediately prior to the trading day on which the Company pays the redemption price divided by (B) the Conversion Price then in effect, and (iii) the product of (x) the amount being redeemed multiplied by (y) the quotient of (M) the aggregate cash consideration and the aggregate cash value of any non-cash consideration per share of Common Stock to be paid to the holders of the shares of Common Stock upon consummation of such change of control divided by (N) the conversion price then in effect.
 
Purchase Rights
 
If the Company issues options, convertible securities, warrants or similar securities to holders of its Common Stock, the holders of the Notes shall have the right to acquire the same as if it had converted its Note into Common Stock.
 
Optional Redemption at the Election of the Company
 
If at any time after the thirtieth calendar day immediately following the date that the registration statement required to be filed under the Registration Rights Agreement is declared effective, (i) the closing sale price of the Common Stock exceeds 200% of the initial Fixed Conversion Price (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations or other similar transactions) for fifteen consecutive trading days, and (ii) all of the Equity Conditions are met, the Company will have the right to redeem all, but not less than all (subject to certain exceptions in connection with the conversion limitation described above), of the principal, accrued and unpaid interest and all other charges remaining under this Note by paying such amount in its entirety in cash.
 
 
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Covenants
 
The Notes contain a variety of obligations on the part of the Company not to engage in certain activities, which are typical for transactions of this type, as well as the following covenants:
 
·  
The Company will initially reserve out of the Company’s authorized and unissued Common Stock an aggregate of 150% number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes on the Closing Date.
 
·  
The Company will, for as long as any Notes are outstanding, reserve out of the Company’s authorized and unissued Common Stock a number of shares equal to 125% of the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes.
 
·  
The Company will take all action reasonably necessary to reserve the required number of shares of Common Stock, including holding a meeting of the Company’s stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of shares of Common Stock within 90 days after the date on which the Company does not have the required number authorized and unissued shares reserved for issuance.
 
·  
The payments due under the Notes will rank senior to all other indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries, other than permitted senior indebtedness.
 
·  
The Company and its subsidiaries will not incur other indebtedness, except for certain permitted indebtedness.
 
·  
The Company and its subsidiaries will not incur any liens, except for certain permitted liens.
 
·  
The Company and its subsidiaries will not, directly or indirectly, redeem or repay all or any portion of any indebtedness (except for certain permitted indebtedness) if at the time such payment is due or is made or, after giving effect to such payment, an event constituting, or that with the passage of time and without being cured would constitute, an event of default has occurred and is continuing.
 
·  
The Company and its subsidiaries will not redeem, repurchase or pay any dividend or distribution on its respective capital stock (other than dividends by wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company) without the prior consent of the Investors, other than a permitted distribution to be made by Pacific Ethanol California, Inc. to the Company upon the closing of the sale of Pacific Ethanol California Inc.’s interest in Front Range Energy, LLC.
 
·  
The Company and its subsidiaries will not sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any assets of the Company or any subsidiary, except for certain permitted dispositions (including the sales of inventory or receivables in the ordinary course of business).
 
·  
The Company and its subsidiaries will not permit any indebtedness to mature or accelerate prior to the maturity date, other than certain permitted indebtedness.
 
 
 
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Participation Rights
 
The holders of the Notes are entitled to receive any dividends paid or distributions made to the holders of the Company’s Common Stock on an “as if converted to Common Stock” basis.
 
Warrants
 
The Warrants are immediately exercisable and, in the aggregate, entitle the holders thereof to purchase up to an aggregate of 20,588,235 shares of Common Stock for a period of seven (7) years at an exercise price of $0.85 per shares (the “Warrant Exercise Price”), subject to adjustment.  The Warrants include both cash and cashless exercise provisions.
 
The Warrant Exercise Price is subject to adjustment for stock splits, combinations or similar events, and, in such event, the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant will also be adjusted such that the aggregate Warrant Exercise Price shall be the same immediately before and immediately after such adjustment.  In addition, the Warrant Exercise Price is also subject to a “full ratchet” anti-dilution adjustment which, in the event that the Company issues or is deemed to have issued certain securities at a price lower than the then applicable Warrant Exercise Price, immediately reduces Warrant Exercise Price to equal the price at which the Company issues or is deemed to have issued its Common Stock.
 
If the Company sells or issues any options or convertible securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the shares of Common Stock, including by way of one or more reset(s) to a fixed price, but exclusive of such formulations reflecting customary anti-dilution provisions, the holder of a Warrant will have the right to substitute the variable price for the Warrant Exercise Price upon exercise of all or part the Warrant.
 
Similar to the Notes, the Warrants require payments to be made by the Company for failure to deliver the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise. The Warrants also contain similar limitations on exercise, including the limitation that the Investors may not own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99% (which percentage shall be established at the election of each Investor to be made prior to the Closing) of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock (which limit may be raised or lowered to an amount not in excess of 9.99% or less than 4.99% at the option of the holder upon 61-days’ prior notice to the Company).
 
Purchase Rights
 
If the Company issues options, convertible securities, warrants, stock, or similar securities to holders of its Common Stock, the holders of the Warrants shall have the right to acquire the same as if it had exercised its Warrants.
 
Fundamental Transactions
 
The Warrants prohibit the Company from entering into certain transactions involving a change of control, unless the successor entity is a publicly traded corporation, and the successor assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under the Warrants and the other transaction documents pursuant to written agreements approved by all of the holders of the Warrants prior to the consummation of the transaction.  Upon the occurrence of a transaction involving a permitted change of control, the holders of the Warrants will have the right, among others, to have the Warrants repurchased for a purchase price in cash equal to the Black Scholes value (as calculated pursuant to the Warrants) of the then unexercised portion of the Warrants.
 
 
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Mandatory Exercise
 
If at any time after the date the Company has initially satisfied all of the Equity Conditions, (i) the Common Stock trades at a price equal to or greater than $2.12 per share for 20 trading days in any 30 consecutive trading day period (the “Mandatory Exercise Measuring Period”), (ii) the average daily dollar trading volume (as reported on Bloomberg) of the Common Stock for each trading day during the Mandatory Exercise Measuring Period   exceeds $250,000 per day and (iii) all Equity Conditions are satisfied, then the Company shall have the right to require the holders of the Warrants to fully exercise all, but not less than all, of the Warrants (subject to certain exceptions in connection with the exercise limitation described above).
 
Registration Rights Agreement
 
The Registration Rights Agreement requires that the Company file a registration statement with the SEC on or before October 27, 2010 (the “Initial Registration Statement”) for the resale by the Investors of all of the (i) maximum number of shares of Common Stock issued and issuable upon conversion of the Notes (the “Conversion Shares”), (ii) the maximum number of Interest Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes and (iii) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issued and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (the Warrants, and collectively with the Interest Shares and the Conversion Shares, the “Registrable Securities”), provided that such Initial Registration Statement shall register for resale 150% of the sum of (i) the maximum number of Conversion Shares issued and issuable upon conversion of the Notes based on the Conversion Price calculated as of the Closing Date, (ii) the maximum number of Interest Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes from the Closing Date through the fifteen month anniversary of the Closing Date and (iii) the maximum number of Warrant Shares issued and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (without taking into account any limitations on the conversion of the Notes or issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Notes or the exercise of the Warrants) (the “Required Registration Amount”).  The Initial Registration Statement must be declared effective by the SEC on or before December 26, 2010.
 
In the event the number of shares available under any Registration Statement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement, the Company must amend such registration statement (if permissible), or file with the SEC a new registration statement, or both, so as to cover at least the Required Registration Amount, as of the trading day immediately preceding the date of the filing of such amendment or new Registration Statement, in each case, as soon as practicable, but not later than 15 days after the necessity therefor arises.
 
If (i) the Initial Registration Statement is not filed with the SEC on or before October 27, 2010 (a “Filing Failure”) or is not declared effective by the SEC on or before December 26, 2010 (an “Effectiveness Failure”), (ii) other than during an allowable grace period, on any day after the effective date of a registration statement sales of all of the Registrable Securities required to be included on such Registration Statement cannot be made pursuant to such registration statement (a “Maintenance Failure”), or (iii) if a registration statement is not effective for any reason or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use for any reason, the Company is not in compliance with the current public information requirement of Rule 144(c) of the Securities Act (a “Current Public Information Failure”) as a result of which any of the Investors are unable to sell Registrable Securities without restriction under Rule 144, then, as partial relief for the damages to any holder by reason of any such delay in, or reduction of, its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock, the Company must pay to each holder of Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement an amount in cash equal to 2% of such Investor’s then outstanding principal amount of such Investor’s Note on the applicable dates set forth below (1) on the date of such Filing Failure, Effectiveness Failure, Maintenance Failure or Current Public Information Failure, as applicable, and (2) on every 30 day anniversary of (I) a Filing Failure until such Filing Failure is cured; (II) an Effectiveness Failure until such Effectiveness Failure is cured; (III) a Maintenance Failure until such Maintenance Failure is cured; and (IV) a Current Public Information Failure until the earlier of (i) the date such Current Public Information Failure is cured and (ii) such time that such public information is no longer required pursuant to Rule 144 (in each case, pro-rated for periods totaling less than 30 days).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payments shall accrue with respect to the Company’s failure to include shares that the Company removes from the registration statement because the SEC seeks to characterize any offering pursuant to a registration statement as constituting an offering of securities by, or on behalf of, the Company, or in any other manner, such that SEC does not permit such registration statement to become effective and used for resales in a manner that does not constitute such an offering and that permits the continuous resale at the market by the Investors participating therein without being named therein as an “underwriter.”  Following the initial payment for any particular event or failure (which shall be paid on the date of such event or failure, as set forth above), without limiting the foregoing, if an event or failure giving rise to the payment is cured prior to any 30 day anniversary of such event or failure, then such payment shall be made on the 3 rd Business Day after such cure. In the event the Company fails to make the payments in a timely manner in accordance with the foregoing, such payments shall bear interest at the rate of 2% per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full.
 
 
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Subject to certain grace periods, the Company must keep a registration statement it is required to file under the Registration Rights Agreement effective (and the prospectus contained therein available for use) for resales by the Investors on a delayed or continuous basis at then-prevailing market prices at all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which all of the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c), if applicable) or (ii) the date on which the Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement.
 
New PE Holdco Acquisition
 
Exercise of Call Option
 
On June 29, 2010, pursuant to the Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”), the Company entered into a Call Option Agreement (the “Option Agreement”) with New PE Holdco LLC, a limited liability company formed as part of the Plan (“New PE Holdco”), and certain current owners of membership interests in New PE Holdco (the “Current Owners”).  The Option Agreement was attached to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 6. 2010.  Under the terms of the Option Agreement, the Company has the right to acquire (the “Option”) from the Current Owners membership interests in New PE Holdco in an amount up to 25% of the total membership interests in New PE Holdco for a total price of $30,000,000 in cash (or $1,200,000 for each one percent of membership interest in New PE Holdco) on or before September 28, 2010.  The assets of New PE Holdco consist of the ownership of the Company’s former wholly-owned subsidiary, Pacific Ethanol Holding Co. LLC, owner of four ethanol production plants.
 
On September 28, 2010, the Company delivered a notice of exercise to New PE Holdco, and thereby exercised the Option to purchase 12% of the total membership interests in New PE Holdco (the “Option Interests”).  The Company expects to pay the purchase price of $14.4 million to New PE Holdco and acquire the membership interests in New PE Holdco immediately after the Closing of the Purchase Agreement described above under the heading “Financing Transaction.”  There can be no assurance that the Option Interests will be acquired by the Company.
 
Purchase of Units in New PE Holdco LLC
 
On September 28, 2010, the Company entered into an Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Units in New PE Holdco (the “Units Purchase Agreement”) with CS Candlewood Special Situations Fund, L.P. (“Candlewood”) under which the Company will purchase 80 Units of New PE Holdco from Candlewood for a total purchase price of $8,880,000 in cash consideration (the “Unit Purchase”).
 
The closing of the Units Purchase Agreement is expected occur immediately after the Closing of the Purchase Agreement described above under the heading “Financing Transaction,” and in no event later than October 22, 2010, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.  The parties may terminate the Units Purchase Agreement if the closing does not occur on or prior to October 22, 2010. There can be no assurance that the closing of the Units Purchase Agreement will be consummated.
 
 
 
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Following the exercise of the Option and the Units Purchase Agreement, the Company will own approximately 20% of the outstanding membership interests of New PE Holdco.
 
The foregoing description of the Units Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Units Purchase Agreement which is filed as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
 
Sale of Interest in Front Range Energy, LLC
 
On September 27, 2010, the Company entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “MIPA”) with Daniel A. Sanders (“Sanders”) under which the Company agreed to sell its entire interest in Front Range Energy, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (“Front Range”), consisting of 10,094,595 Class B Voting Units representing approximately 42% of the outstanding membership interests of Front Range, to Sanders for an aggregate cash consideration of $18,500,000 (the “Front Range Transaction”).  The Company anticipates that it will use the proceeds from the Front Range Transaction to pay certain indebtedness owed to Lyles United LLC and Lyles Mechanical Co. (collectively, “Lyles”).
 
The closing of the Front Range Transaction is expected to close on or prior to October 11, 2010, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.  The closing of the Front Range Transaction is contingent on the closing of the Purchase Agreement described above under the heading “Financing Transaction.”  There can be no assurance that the Front Range Transaction will be consummated.
 
The foregoing description of the MIPA does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the MIPA which is filed as Exhibit 10.6 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
 
Payoff of Certain Debt
 
The Company expects that it will pay off certain notes (the “Notes”) in the amount of approximately $17.1 million, representing all of the indebtedness owed to Lyles, using the proceeds of the Front Range Transaction (the “Payoff”).  The Company anticipates consummating the Payoff on or prior to October 11, 2010.  There can be no assurance that the Payoff will be consummated.
 
Item 2.03.      Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
 
On September 27, 2010, the Company entered into the Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to sell Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $35 million. The description of the Financing Transaction in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated in its entirety by this reference into this Item 2.03.
 
 
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Item 3.02.      Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
 
On September 27, 2010, the Company entered into the Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue Notes and Warrants to 7 accredited investors. The description of the Financing Transaction in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated in its entirety by this reference into this Item 3.02.
 
In connection with the Financing Transaction, the Company anticipates that it will pay placement agent fees of $2,450,000 to Lazard Capital Markets LLC, the Company’s Placement Agent.  The Notes and the Warrants were issued in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act and Rule 506 promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
 
Item 9.01.       Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
Exhibit No.                        Description
 
 
10.1
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated September 27, 2010, between the Company and the Investors (*)
 
 
10.2
Form of Senior Convertible Notes (*)
 
 
10.3
Form of Warrants (*)
 
 
10.4
Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the Investors (*)
 
 
10.5
Agreement for  Purchase and Sale of Units in New PE Holdco , dated September 28, 2010,    between the Company and CS Candlewood Special Situations Fund, L.P. (*)
 
 
10.6
Membership  Interest Purchase Agreement , dated September 27, 2010, between the Company and Daniel A. Sanders (*)
 
 
99.1
Press Release (*)
______________
 
(*)           Filed herewith. All of the agreements filed as exhibits to this report contain representations and warranties made by the parties thereto. The assertions embodied in such representations and warranties are not necessarily assertions of fact, but a mechanism for the parties to allocate risk.  Accordingly, investors should not rely on the representations and warranties as characterizations of the actual state of facts or for any other purpose at the time they were made or otherwise .
 
 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
  PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.  
       
Date: September 28, 2010
By:
/s/ CHRISTOPHER W. WRIGHT  
    Christopher W. Wright,  
    Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary  
       
 
 
 
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EXHIBIT FILED WITH THIS REPORT
 
Exhibit No.               Description
 
 
10.1
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated September 27, 2010, between the Company and the Investors
 
 
10.2
Form of Senior Convertible Notes
 
 
10.3
Form of Warrants
 
 
10.4
Form of Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and the Investors
 
 
10.5
Agreement  for Purchase and Sale of Units in New PE Holdco , dated September 28, 2010, between the Company and CS Candlewood Special Situations Fund, L.P.
 
 
10.6
Membership  Interest Purchase Agreement , dated September 27, 2010, between the Company and Daniel A. Sanders
 
 
99.1
Press Release
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Exhibit 10.1
 
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”), dated as of September 27, 2010, is by and among Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation with offices located at 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, CA 95814 (the “ Company ”), and each of the investors listed on the Schedule of Buyers attached hereto (individually, a “ Buyer ” and collectively, the “ Buyers ”).

RECITALS

A.           On May 17, 2009, five indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, Pacific Ethanol Holding Co. LLC, Pacific Ethanol Madera LLC, Pacific Ethanol Columbia, LLC, Pacific Ethanol Stockton, LLC and Pacific Ethanol Magic Valley, LLC (collectively, the “ Debtors ”) each commenced a case (In re Pacific Ethanol Holding Co. LLC, et al., Chapter 11 Case No. 09-11713 (KG)) (the “ Bankruptcy Case ”) by filing voluntary petitions for relief under chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “ Bankruptcy Court ”).

B.           On June 29, 2010, the Debtors declared effective their amended joint plan of reorganization under Chapter 11, which includes, among other things, a call option (the “ Call Option ”) that permits the Company to acquire up to a 25% ownership interest in the reorganized holding company of the Debtors, New PE Holdco, LLC (“ New PE Holdco ”), from certain owners of New PE Holdco (the “ Call Owners ”) for a total price of up to $30 million.

C.           Promptly following the Closing Date (as defined below), the Company desires to purchase, either pursuant to the Call Option or agreements with one or more holders of capital stock of New PE Holdco (collectively, the “ New PE Holdco Purchase Agreements ”), no less than an aggregate of 20% of the capital stock of New PE Holdco (the “ Minimum New PE Holdco Share Amount ”).

D.           The Company and each Buyer is executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“ Regulation D ”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) under the 1933 Act.
 
E.           The Company has authorized senior convertible notes, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Notes ”), which Notes shall be convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”) (as converted, collectively, the “ Conversion Shares ”), in accordance with the terms of the Notes.

F.           Each Buyer wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) a Note in an aggregate original principal amount set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers and (ii) a warrant to acquire up to that aggregate number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Warrants ”) (as exercised, collectively, the “ Warrant Shares ”).


 
 

 

G.           The Notes are entitled to interest, amortization payments and certain other amounts, which, at the option of the Company and subject to certain conditions, may be paid in shares of Common Stock (the " Interest Shares ") or in cash.

H.          At the Closing, the parties hereto shall execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.

I.            The Notes, the Conversion Shares, the Interest Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares are collectively referred to herein as the “ Securities .”
 
AGREEMENT
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Buyer hereby agree as follows:
 
1.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF NOTES AND WARRANTS.
 
(a)             Notes and Warrants . Subject to the satisfaction (or waiver) of the conditions set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below, the Company shall issue and sell to each Buyer, and each Buyer severally, but not jointly, shall purchase from the Company on the Closing Date (as defined below), a Note in the original principal amount as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) on the Schedule of Buyers along with Warrants to acquire up to that aggregate number of Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) on the Schedule of Buyers.
 
(b)            Closing . The closing (the “ Closing ”) of the purchase of the Notes and the Warrants by the Buyers shall occur at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, MetLife Building, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166. The date and time of the Closing (the “ Closing Date ”) shall be 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the first (1 st ) Business Day on which the conditions to the Closing set forth in Sections 6 and 7 below are satisfied or waived (or such later date as is mutually agreed to by the Company and each Buyer). As used herein “ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
 
(c)            Purchase Price .  The aggregate purchase price for the Notes and the Warrants to be purchased by each Buyer (the “ Purchase Price ”) shall be the amount set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (5) on the Schedule of Buyers.
 
(d)            Form of Payment . On the Closing Date, (i) each Buyer shall pay its respective Purchase Price (less, in the case of any Buyer, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) to the Company for the Notes and the Warrants to be issued and sold to such Buyer at the Closing, by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Company’s written wire instructions and (ii) the Company shall deliver to each Buyer (A) a Note in the aggregate original principal amount as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (3) of the Schedule of Buyers and (B) a Warrant pursuant to which such Buyer shall have the right to acquire up to such aggregate number of Warrant Shares as is set forth opposite such Buyer’s name in column (4) of the Schedule of Buyers, in all cases, duly executed on behalf of the Company and registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee.
 

 
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2.
BUYER’S REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
 
Each Buyer, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company with respect to only itself that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:
 
(a)            Organization; Authority . Such Buyer is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (as defined below) to which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder.
 
(b)            No Public Sale or Distribution . Such Buyer is acquiring its Note and Warrants for its own account and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof in violation of applicable securities laws, except pursuant to sales registered or exempted under the 1933 Act; provided, however, by making the representations herein, such Buyer does not agree, or make any representation or warranty, to hold any of the Securities for any minimum or other specific term and reserves the right to dispose of the Securities at any time in accordance with or pursuant to a registration statement or an exemption under the 1933 Act. Such Buyer is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Buyer does not presently have any agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute any of the Securities in violation of applicable securities laws.
 
(c)            Accredited Investor Status .  Such Buyer is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D.
 
(d)            Reliance on Exemptions . Such Buyer understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of United States federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Buyer’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgments and understandings of such Buyer set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Buyer to acquire the Securities.
 
(e)            Information . Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Securities which have been requested by such Buyer. Such Buyer and its advisors, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by such Buyer or its advisors, if any, or its representatives shall modify, amend or affect such Buyer’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein or any representations and warranties contained in any other Transaction Document or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby. Such Buyer understands that its investment in the Securities involves a high degree of risk. Such Buyer has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities.
 

 
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(f)            No Governmental Review .  Such Buyer understands that no United States federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities.
 
(g)            Transfer or Resale . Such Buyer understands that except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement and Section 4(h) hereof: (i) the Securities have not been and are not being registered under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and may not be offered for sale, sold, assigned or transferred unless (A) subsequently registered thereunder, (B) such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company (if requested by the Company) an opinion of counsel to such Buyer, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company, to the effect that such Securities to be sold, assigned or transferred may be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an exemption from such registration, or (C) such Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurance that such Securities can be sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A promulgated under the 1933 Act (or a successor rule thereto) (collectively, “ Rule 144 ”); (ii) any sale of the Securities made in reliance on Rule 144 may be made only in accordance with the terms of Rule 144, and further, if Rule 144 is not applicable, any resale of the Securities under circumstances in which the seller (or the Person (as defined below) through whom the sale is made) may be deemed to be an underwriter (as that term is defined in the 1933 Act) may require compliance with some other exemption under the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder; and (iii) neither the Company nor any other Person is under any obligation to register the Securities under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws or to comply with the terms and conditions of any exemption thereunder.
 
(h)            Validity; Enforcement . This Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement  have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of such Buyer and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of such Buyer enforceable against such Buyer in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation and other similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies.
 
(i)            No Conflicts .  The execution, delivery and performance by such Buyer of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation by such Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Buyer or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Buyer is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment  or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Buyer, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Buyer to perform its obligations hereunder.
 

 
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(j)            Residency . Such Buyer is a resident of the jurisdiction specified below its address on the Schedule of Buyers.
 
3.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
 
The Company represents and warrants to each of the Buyers that, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date:
 
(a)            Organization and Qualification . Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Notes) are entities duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are formed, and have the requisite power and authorization to own their properties and to carry on their business as now being conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign entity to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement, “ Material Adverse Effect ” means any material adverse effect on (i) the business, properties, assets, liabilities, operations (including results thereof), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary, individually or taken as a whole, (ii) the transactions contemplated hereby or in any of the other Transaction Documents or (iii) the authority or ability of the Company  to perform any of its obligations under any of the Transaction Documents (as defined below). Other than its Subsidiaries and Front Range Energy, LLC, there is no Person in which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns capital stock or holds an equity or similar interest.

(b)            Authorization; Enforcement; Validity . The Company has the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to issue the Securities in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Notes and the reservation for issuance of the Required Reserve Amount and issuance of the Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes and the reservation for issuance and issuance any Interest Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes and the issuance of the Warrants and the reservation for issuance and issuance of the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants) have been duly authorized by the Company’s board of directors or other governing body and (other than the filing with the SEC of one or more Registration Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, a Form D with the SEC and any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies) no further filing, consent or authorization is required by the Company, its board of directors or its stockholders or other governing body. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally, the enforcement of applicable creditors’ rights and remedies and except as rights to indemnification and to contribution may be limited by federal or state securities law. “ Transaction Documents ” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions (as defined below) and each of the other agreements and instruments entered into by the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, as may be amended from time to time.
 

 
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(c)            Issuance of Securities . The issuance of the Notes and the Warrants are duly authorized and upon issuance in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof. As of the Closing, the Company shall have reserved from its duly authorized capital stock not less than 150% of the sum of (i) the maximum number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes (assuming for purposes hereof that the Notes are convertible at the initial Conversion Price (as defined in the Notes) and without taking into account any limitations on the conversion of the Notes set forth in the Notes), (ii) the maximum number of Interest Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes from the Closing Date through the fifteen month anniversary of the Closing Date (determined as if issued on the Trading Day (as defined in the Notes) immediately preceding the Closing Date without taking into account any limitations on the issuance of securities set forth in the Notes) and (iii) the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (without taking into account any limitations on the exercise of the Warrants set forth therein). Upon issuance or conversion in accordance with the Notes or exercise in accordance with the Warrants (as the case may be), the Conversion Shares, the Interest Shares and the Warrant Shares, respectively, when issued, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights, taxes, liens, charges and other encumbrances with respect to the issue thereof, with the holders being entitled to all rights accorded to a holder of Common Stock. Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Buyers in this Agreement, the offer and issuance by the Company of the Securities is exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.
 
(d)            No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by the Company and its Subsidiaries of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Notes, the Warrants, the Conversion Shares, the Interest Shares and Warrant Shares and the reservation for issuance of the Conversion Shares, the Interest Shares and the Warrant Shares) will not (i) result in a violation of the Certificate of Incorporation (as defined below) or other organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Bylaws (as defined below) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including foreign, federal and state securities laws and regulations and the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Principal Market ”) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or affected except, in the case of clause (ii) or (iii) above, to the extent such violations that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
 

 
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(e)            Consents .  Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is required to obtain any consent from, authorization or order of, or make any filing or registration with (other than the filing with the SEC of one or more Registration Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, a Form D with the SEC and any other filings as may be required by any state securities agencies), any court, governmental agency or any regulatory or self-regulatory agency or any other Person in order for it to execute, deliver or perform any of its respective obligations under or contemplated by the Transaction Documents, in each case, in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof, except the consent of the holders of the Company’s Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock and the waiver of certain pre-emptive rights held by the holders of the Company’s Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, which consent and waiver will be obtained prior to Closing and the filing of a notification form with the Principal Market. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations which the Company or any Subsidiary is required to obtain pursuant to the preceding sentence have been obtained or effected on or prior to the Closing Date, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries are aware of any facts or circumstances which might prevent the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from obtaining or effecting any of the registration, application or filings contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company is not in violation of the requirements of the Principal Market (other than the minimum bid price per share of $1.00) and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which could reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
 
(f)            Acknowledgment Regarding Buyer’s Purchase of Securities . The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Buyer is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and that no Buyer is (i) an officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) to its knowledge, an “affiliate” (as defined in Rule 144) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) to its knowledge, a “beneficial owner” of more than 10% of the shares of Common Stock (as defined for purposes of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”)). The Company further acknowledges that no Buyer is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and any advice given by a Buyer or any of its representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby is merely incidental to such Buyer’s purchase of the Securities. The Company further represents to each Buyer that the Company’s decision to enter into the Transaction Documents to which it is a party has been based solely on the independent evaluation by the Company and its representatives.
 
(g)            No General Solicitation; Placement Agent’s Fees . Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf, has engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent’s fees, financial advisory fees, or brokers’ commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer or its investment advisor) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the sale of the Securities.  Other than Lazard Freres & Co. (the “ Placement Agent ”), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged any placement agent or other agent in connection with the sale of the Securities.
 

 
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(h)            No Integrated Offering . None of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates, nor any Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act, whether through integration with prior offerings or otherwise. None of the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates nor any Person acting on their behalf will take any action or steps referred to in the preceding sentence that would require registration of the issuance of any of the Securities under the 1933 Act or cause the offering of any of the Securities to be integrated with other offerings of securities of the Company.
 
(i)            Dilutive Effect . The Company understands and acknowledges that the number of Conversion Shares, Interest Shares and Warrant Shares will increase in certain circumstances. The Company further acknowledges that its obligation to issue the Conversion Shares upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with this Agreement and the Notes, the Interest Shares in accordance with this Agreement and the Notes and the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with this Agreement, the Notes and the Warrants is, absolute and unconditional regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership interests of other stockholders of the Company.
 
(j)            Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreement . Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(j) , the Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, interested stockholder, business combination, poison pill (including, without limitation, any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational documents or the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or otherwise which is or could become applicable to any Buyer as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and any Buyer’s ownership of the Securities. The Company and its board of directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock or a change in control of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
(k)            SEC Documents; Financial Statements . Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(k) ,   during the two (2) years prior to the date hereof, the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein being hereinafter referred to as the “ SEC Documents ”). The Company has delivered to the Buyers or their respective representatives true, correct and complete copies of each of the SEC Documents not available on the EDGAR system requested by the Buyers or their respective representatives. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents, and none of the SEC Documents, at the time they were filed with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of their respective dates, the financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect as of the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, during the periods involved (except (i) as may be otherwise indicated in such financial statements or the notes thereto, or (ii) in the case of unaudited interim statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments which will not be material, either individually or in the aggregate). No other information provided by or on behalf of the Company to any of the Buyers which is not included in the SEC Documents (including, without limitation, information referred to in Section 2(e) of this Agreement) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, in the light of the circumstance under which they are or were made.
 

 
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(l)            Absence of Certain Changes . Since the date of the Company’s most recent audited financial statements contained in a Form 10-K and any subsequent unaudited financial statements contained in a Form 10-Q, there has been no material adverse change and no material adverse development in the business, assets, liabilities, properties, operations (including results thereof), condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(l) , since the date of the Company’s most recent audited financial statements contained in a Form 10-K, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) declared or paid any dividends, (ii) sold any assets, individually or in the aggregate, outside of the ordinary course of business or (iii) made any material capital expenditures, individually or in the aggregate.  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any law or statute relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, liquidation or winding up, nor does the Company or any Subsidiary have any knowledge or reason to believe that any of their respective creditors intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings or any actual knowledge of any fact which would reasonably lead a creditor to do so.  The Company and its Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, are not as of the date hereof, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby to occur at the Closing will not be, Insolvent (as defined below). The Company and its Subsidiaries, individually and on a consolidated basis, are not, assuming the concurrent payment of the Purchase Price and the closing of the Call Option, Insolvent (as defined below).  For purposes of this Section 3(l), “ Insolvent ” means, (I) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, (i) the present fair saleable value of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets is less than the amount required to pay the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ total Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries are unable to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured or (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries intend to incur or believe that they will incur debts that would be beyond their ability to pay as such debts mature; and (II) with respect to the Company and each Subsidiary, individually, (i) the present fair saleable value of the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s (as the case may be) assets is less than the amount required to pay its respective total Indebtedness, (ii) the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) is unable to pay its respective debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured or (iii) the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) intends to incur or believes that it will incur debts that would be beyond its respective ability to pay as such debts mature. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any business or in any transaction, and is not about to engage in any business or in any transaction, for which the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s remaining assets constitute unreasonably small capital.
 

 
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(m)            No Undisclosed Events, Liabilities, Developments or Circumstances . Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(m), no event, liability, development or circumstance has occurred or exists, or is reasonably expected to exist or occur with respect to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses, properties, liabilities, prospects, operations (including results thereof) or condition (financial or otherwise), that (i) would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws on a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC relating to an issuance and sale by the Company of its Common Stock and which has not been publicly announced, (ii) could have a material adverse effect on any Buyer’s investment hereunder or (iii) could have a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(n)            Conduct of Business; Regulatory Permits . Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n) , neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any term of or in default under its Certificate of Incorporation, any certificate of designation, preferences or rights of any other outstanding series of preferred stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Bylaws or their organizational charter, certificate of formation or certificate of incorporation or bylaws, respectively. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any judgment, decree or order or any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will conduct its business in violation of any of the foregoing, except in all cases for possible violations which could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n) , the Company is not in violation of any of the rules, regulations or requirements of the Principal Market and has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances that could reasonably lead to delisting or suspension of the Common Stock by the Principal Market in the foreseeable future. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(n) , during the two years prior to the date hereof, (i) the Common Stock has been listed or designated for quotation on the Principal Market, (ii) trading in the Common Stock has not been suspended by the SEC or the Principal Market and (iii) the Company has received no communication, written or oral, from the SEC or the Principal Market regarding the suspension or delisting of the Common Stock from the Principal Market. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit.
 
(o)            Foreign Corrupt Practices .  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any director, officer, agent, employee or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.
 
(p)            Sarbanes-Oxley Act . The Company and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof.
 
(q)            Transactions With Affiliates . Except as disclosed on Schedule 3(q), none of the officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than for ordinary course services as employees, officers or directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any such officer, director or employee or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any corporation, partnership, trust or other Person in which any such officer, director, or employee has a substantial interest or is an employee, officer, director, trustee or partner.
 

 
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(r)             Equity Capitalization .  As of the date hereof, the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which, 82,971,365 are issued and outstanding and 19,321,617 shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to securities (other than the Notes and the Warrants) exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, shares of Common Stock and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 2,203,554 are issued and outstanding.  No shares of Common Stock are held in treasury.  All of such outstanding shares are duly authorized and have been, or upon issuance will be, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.  5,366,166 shares of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock on the date hereof are as of the date hereof owned by Persons who are “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act and calculated based on the assumption that only officers, directors and holders of at least 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock are “affiliates” without conceding that any such Persons are “affiliates” for purposes of federal securities laws) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. To the Company’s knowledge, as of the date hereof, no Person owns 10% or more of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (calculated based on the assumption that all Convertible Securities (as defined below), whether or not presently exercisable or convertible, have been fully exercised or converted (as the case may be) taking account of any limitations on exercise or conversion (including “blockers”) contained therein without conceding that such identified Person is a 10% stockholder for purposes of federal securities laws). Except as disclosed in Schedule 3 (r) : (i) none of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s capital stock is subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens or encumbrances suffered or permitted by the Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to issue additional capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or options, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) there are no outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, documents or instruments evidencing Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound; (iv) there are no financing statements securing obligations in any amounts filed in connection with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (v) there are no agreements or arrangements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to register the sale of any of their securities under the 1933 Act (except pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement); (vi) there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (vii) there are no securities or instruments containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities; (viii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement; and (ix) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have any liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the SEC Documents which are not so disclosed in the SEC Documents, other than those incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses and which, individually or in the aggregate, do not or could not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has furnished to the Buyers true, correct and complete copies of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and the Company’s bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof (the “ Bylaws ”), and the terms of all securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock and the material rights of the holders thereof in respect thereto that have not been disclosed in the SEC Documents.
 

 
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(s)             Indebtedness and Other Contracts . Except as disclosed on Schedule 3 (s) , neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has any outstanding Indebtedness (as defined below), (ii) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument, the violation of which, or default under which, by the other party(ies) to such contract, agreement or instrument could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) is in violation of any term of, or in default under, any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, except where such violations and defaults would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iv) is a party to any contract, agreement or instrument relating to any Indebtedness, the performance of which, in the judgment of the Company’s officers, has or is expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement: (x) “ Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, “capital leases” in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied for the periods covered thereby, is classified as a capital lease, (G) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (F) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, claim, lien, tax, right of first refusal, encumbrance, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (H) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above; (y) “ Contingent Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto; and (z) “ Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.
 
(t)             Absence of Litigation . Except as set forth on Schedule 3 (t) , there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by the Principal Market, any court, public board, governmental agency or other self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Common Stock or any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ officers or directors which is outside of the ordinary course of business or individually or in the aggregate material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the SEC involving the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any current or former director or officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The SEC has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act.
 

 
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(u)            Insurance . The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged. Neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and neither the Company nor any such Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will be unable to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(v)            Employee Relations .  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or employs any member of a union. No executive officer (as defined in Rule 501(f) promulgated under the 1933 Act) or other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has notified the Company or any such Subsidiary that such officer intends to leave the Company or any such Subsidiary or otherwise terminate such officer’s employment with the Company or any such Subsidiary. No executive officer or other key employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement, non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant, and the continued employment of each such executive officer or other key employee (as the case may be) does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters.  The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations respecting labor, employment and employment practices and benefits, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where failure to be in compliance would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(w)            Title .  The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and have good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
(x)             Intellectual Property Rights . The Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights or licenses to use all trademarks, trade names, service marks, service mark registrations, service names, patents, patent rights, copyrights, original works, inventions, licenses, approvals, governmental authorizations, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights and all applications and registrations therefor (“ Intellectual Property Rights ”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as now conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted.  None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ Intellectual Property Rights have expired, terminated or been abandoned, or are expected to expire, terminate or be abandoned, within three years from the date of this Agreement.  The Company has no knowledge of any infringement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Intellectual Property Rights of others.  There is no claim, action or proceeding being made or brought, or to the knowledge of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, being threatened, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries regarding their Intellectual Property Rights.  The Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances which might give rise to any of the foregoing infringements or claims, actions or proceedings. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their Intellectual Property Rights.
 

 
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(y)            Environmental Laws . The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all Environmental Laws (as defined below), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where, in each of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  The term “ Environmental Laws ” means all federal, state, local or foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “ Hazardous Materials ”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder.
 
(z)             Subsidiary Rights .  Except as set forth on Schedule 3(z) , the Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the unrestricted right to vote, and (subject to limitations imposed by applicable law) to receive dividends and distributions on, all capital securities of its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or such Subsidiary.
 
(aa)           Tax Status . Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) has timely made or filed all foreign, federal and state income and all other tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has timely paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations, except those being contested in good faith and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries know of no basis for any such claim.  The Company is not operated in such a manner as to qualify as a passive foreign investment company, as defined in Section 1297 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
(bb)           Internal Accounting and Disclosure Controls . Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the 1934 Act) that is effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset and liability accountability, (iii) access to assets or incurrence of liabilities is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets and liabilities is compared with the existing assets and liabilities at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any difference. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the 1934 Act) that are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3(bb) hereto, during the past two years neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or correspondence from any accountant or other Person relating to any potential material weakness or significant deficiency in any part of the internal controls over financial reporting of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 

 
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(cc)            Off Balance Sheet Arrangements .  Except as disclosed in Schedule 3(cc) , there is no transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its 1934 Act filings and is not so disclosed or that otherwise could be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(dd)           Investment Company Status . The Company is not, and upon consummation of the sale of the Securities will not be, an “investment company,” an affiliate of an “investment company,” a company controlled by an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of  1940, as amended.
 
(ee)            Acknowledgement Regarding Buyers’ Trading Activity . It is understood and acknowledged by the Company that (i) following the public disclosure of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, in accordance with the terms thereof, none of the Buyers have been asked by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to agree, nor has any Buyer agreed with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, to desist from effecting any transactions in or with respect to (including, without limitation, purchasing or selling, long and/or short) any securities of the Company, or “derivative” securities based on securities issued by the Company or to hold the Securities for any specified term; (ii) any Buyer, and counterparties in “derivative” transactions to which any such Buyer is a party, directly or indirectly, presently may have a “short” position in the Common Stock which was established prior to such Buyer’s knowledge of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, and (iii) each Buyer shall not be deemed to have any affiliation with or control over any arm’s length counterparty in any “derivative” transaction. The Company further understands and acknowledges that following the public disclosure of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents pursuant to the Press Release (as defined below) one or more Buyers may engage in hedging and/or trading activities at various times during the period that the Securities are outstanding, including, without limitation, during the periods that the value and/or number of the Warrant Shares, the Interest Shares or Conversion Shares, as applicable, deliverable with respect to the Securities are being determined and (b) such hedging and/or trading activities, if any, can reduce the value of the existing stockholders’ equity interest in the Company both at and after the time the hedging and/or trading activities are being conducted. The Company acknowledges that such aforementioned hedging and/or trading activities do not constitute a breach of this Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants or any other Transaction Document or any of the documents executed in connection herewith or therewith.
 

 
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(ff)            Manipulation of Price . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no Person acting on their behalf has, directly or indirectly, (i) taken any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Securities (other than the Placement Agent), or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
(gg)           U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation .  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or has ever been, and so long as any of the Securities are held by any of the Buyers, shall become, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company and each Subsidiary shall so certify upon any Buyer’s request.
 
(hh)           Registration Eligibility . The Company is eligible to register the Registrable Securities for resale by the Buyers using Form S-1 promulgated under the 1933 Act.
 
(ii)             Transfer Taxes . On the Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income or similar taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the issuance, sale and transfer of the Securities to be sold to each Buyer hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company, and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been complied with.
 
(jj)             Bank Holding Company Act .  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “ BHCA ”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “ Federal Reserve ”).  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any equity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.
 
(kk)           Shell Company Status . The Company is not, and since March 23, 2005 has never been, an issuer identified in Rule 144(i).
 
(ll)             Illegal or Unauthorized Payments; Political Contributions .  Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company's knowledge (after reasonable inquiry of its officers and directors), any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or other representatives of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other business entity or enterprise with which the Company or any Subsidiary is or has been affiliated or associated, has, directly or indirectly, made or authorized any payment, contribution or gift of money, property, or services, whether or not in contravention of applicable law, (a) as a kickback or bribe to any Person or (b) to any political organization, or the holder of or any aspirant to any elective or appointive public office except for personal political contributions not involving the direct or indirect use of funds of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 

 
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(mm)         Money Laundering .  The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with, and have not previously violated, the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and all other applicable U.S. and non-U.S. anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the laws, regulations and Executive Orders and sanctions programs administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, including, but not limited, to (i) Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 entitled, "Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism" (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001)); and (ii) any regulations contained in 31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V.
 
(nn)          Management .  During the past five year period, no current or, to the knowledge of the Company, former officer or director or, to the knowledge of the Company, stockholder of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been the subject of:
 
(i)           a petition under bankruptcy laws or any other insolvency or moratorium law or the appointment by a court of a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer for such Person, or any partnership in which such person was a general partner at or within two years before the filing of such petition or such appointment, or any corporation or business association of which such person was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of the filing of such petition or such appointment;
 
(ii)           a conviction in a criminal proceeding or a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations that do not relate to driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence);
 
(iii)          any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining any such person from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities:
 
(1)           Acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity;
 
(2)           Engaging in any type of business practice; or
 
(3)           Engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of securities laws or commodities laws;
 
(iv)           any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of any such person to engage in any activity described in the preceding sub paragraph, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;
 

 
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(v)           a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the SEC or other authority to have violated any securities law, regulation or decree and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the SEC or any other authority has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated; or
 
(vi)           a finding by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated.
 
(oo)          No Additional Agreements . The Company does not have any agreement or understanding with any Buyer with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents other than as specified in the Transaction Documents.
 
(pp)          Public Utility Holding Act .  None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “holding company,” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company,” as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Act of 2005.
 
(qq)          Federal Power Act .  None of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to regulation as a “public utility” under the Federal Power Act, as amended.
 
(rr)            Ranking of Notes . Except as set forth on Schedule 3(rr) , no Indebtedness of the Company, at the Closing, will be senior to, or pari passu with, the Notes in right of payment, whether with respect to payment or redemptions, interest, damages, upon liquidation or dissolution or otherwise.
 
(ss)           Disclosure .  The Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Buyers or their agents or counsel with any information that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, non-public information concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than the existence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. The Company understands and confirms that each of the Buyers will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All disclosure provided to the Buyers regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, their businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the schedules to this Agreement, furnished by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Each press release issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during the twelve (12) months preceding the date of this Agreement did not at the time of release contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.  No event or circumstance has occurred or information exists with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their business, properties, liabilities, prospects, operations (including results thereof) or conditions (financial or otherwise), which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure at or before the date hereof or announcement by the Company but which has not been so publicly announced or disclosed. The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Buyer makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 2.
 

 
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4.
COVENANTS.
 
(a)            Best Efforts . Each Buyer shall use its best efforts to timely satisfy each of the conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Section 6. The Company shall use its best efforts to timely satisfy each of the conditions to be satisfied by it as provided in Section 7.
 
(b)            Form D and Blue Sky .  The Company agrees to file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof to each Buyer promptly after such filing. The Company shall, within fifteen (15) calendar days after the Closing Date, take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to, qualify the Securities for sale to the Buyers at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain an exemption from such qualification), and shall provide evidence of any such action so taken to the Buyers on or prior to the Closing Date.  The Company shall make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States following the Closing Date.
 
(c)            Reporting Status . During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending after the Closing Date when the Buyers shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities (the “ Reporting Period ”), the Company shall timely file all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, and the Company shall not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act even if the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would no longer require or otherwise permit such termination.  From the time Form S-3 is available to the Company for the registration of the Conversion Shares, the Interest Shares and the Warrant Shares, the Company shall take all actions necessary to maintain its eligibility to register the Conversion Shares, the Interest Shares and the Warrant Shares for resale by the Buyers on Form S-3.
 
(d)            Use of Proceeds . The Company shall use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities for (i) the acquisition of at least the Minimum New PE Holdco Share Amount of the capital stock of New PE Holdco, (ii) the payment of the fees and expenses described in Section 4(g) below and (iii) general corporate purposes, but not for the (x) except as set forth on Schedule 4(d) attached hereto, the repayment of any outstanding Indebtedness (other than in respect of the Notes) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) redemption or repurchase of any securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (z) the settlement of any outstanding litigation.
 
(e)            Financial Information . The Company agrees to send the following to each Investor (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) during the Reporting Period (i) unless the following are filed with the SEC through EDGAR and are available to the public through the EDGAR system, within one (1) Business Day after the filing thereof with the SEC, a copy of its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any interim reports or any consolidated balance sheets, income statements, stockholders’ equity statements and/or cash flow statements for any period other than annual, any Current Reports on Form 8-K and any registration statements (other than on Form S-8) or amendments filed pursuant to the 1933 Act, (ii) on the same day as the release thereof, facsimile copies of all press releases issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (iii) copies of any notices and other information made available or given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the making available or giving thereof to the stockholders.
 

 
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(f)            Listing .  The Company shall promptly secure the listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) of all of the Registrable Securities upon each national securities exchange and automated quotation system, if any, upon which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation (as the case may be) (subject to official notice of issuance) and shall maintain such listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) of all Registrable Securities from time to time issuable under the terms of the Transaction Documents on such national securities exchange or automated quotation system. The Company shall maintain the Common Stock’s listing or designation for quotation (as the case may be) on the Principal Market, The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex LLC or the Nasdaq Global Select Market (each, an “ Eligible Market ”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action which could be reasonably expected to result in the delisting or suspension of the Common Stock on an Eligible Market.  The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 4(f).
 
(g)            Fees .  The Company shall reimburse Greenberg Traurig, LLP (counsel to the lead investor) for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by it or its affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, all reasonable legal fees and disbursements in connection therewith, documentation and implementation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and due diligence and regulatory filings in connection therewith) (the “ Counsel Expense Amount ”).  On the date hereof the Company shall pay, by wire transfer in U.S. dollars and immediately available funds, the invoice with respect to the Counsel Expense Amount, dated on or about the date hereof, and delivered to the Company on or prior to the date hereof (which reflects a credit for the $35,000 which was previously advanced to Greenberg Traurig, LLP by the Company).  Any unpaid Counsel Expense Amounts may be withheld by a Buyer (at the request of Greenberg Traurig, LLP) from its Purchase Price at the applicable Closing or paid by the Company upon termination of this Agreement on demand by Greenberg Traurig, LLP so long as such termination did not occur as a result of a material breach by the lead investor of any of its obligations hereunder (as the case may be).  If the amount so withheld at the Closing by a Buyer was less than the Counsel Expense Amount actually incurred by Greenberg Traurig, LLP in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company shall promptly reimburse Greenberg Traurig, LLP on demand for such Counsel Expense Amount not so reimbursed by the Company on the date hereof or through such withholding at the Closing. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent’s fees, financial advisory fees, transfer agent fees. DTC (as defined below) fees or broker’s commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Buyer) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, any fees payable to the Placement Agent, who is the Company’s sole placement agent in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement). The Company shall pay, and hold each Buyer harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any claim relating to any such payment. Except as otherwise set forth in the Transaction Documents, each party to this Agreement shall bear its own expenses in connection with the sale of the Securities to each Buyer.
 

 
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(h)            Pledge of Securities . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 2(g), the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Securities may be pledged by a Buyer in connection with a bona fide margin agreement or other loan or financing arrangement that is secured by the Securities. The pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Buyer effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. The Company hereby agrees to execute and deliver such documentation as a pledgee of the Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge of the Securities to such pledgee by a Buyer.
 
(i)             Disclosure of Transactions and Other Material Information . The Company shall, on or before 8:30 a.m., New York time, on the first (1 st ) Business Day after the date of this Agreement, issue a press release (the “ Press Release ”) reasonably acceptable to the Buyers disclosing all the material terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. On or before 8:30 a.m., New York time, on the first (1 st ) Business Day following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall file a Current Report on Form 8-K describing all the material terms of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents in the form required by the 1934 Act and attaching all the material Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, this Agreement (and all schedules to this Agreement), the form of Notes, the form of the Warrants, and the form of the Registration Rights Agreement) (including all attachments, the “ 8-K Filing ”).  From and after the issuance of the 8-K Filing, the Company shall have disclosed all material, non-public information (if any) delivered to any of the Buyers by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and each of its and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents not to, provide any Buyer with any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and after the issuance of the Press Release without the express prior written consent of such Buyer.  The Company understands and confirms that each Buyer shall be relying on the foregoing covenant and agreement in effecting transactions in securities of the Company, and based on such covenant and agreement, unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing by such Buyer: (i) such Buyer does not have any obligation of confidentiality with respect to any information that the Company provides to such Buyer; and (ii) such Buyer shall not be deemed to be in breach of any duty to the Company and/or to have misappropriated any non-public information of the Company, if such Buyer engages in transactions of securities of the Company, including, without limitation, any hedging transactions, short sales and/or any derivative transactions based on securities of the Company while in possession of such material non-public information.  In the event of a breach of any of the foregoing covenants or any of the covenants or agreements contained in the Transaction Documents by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (as determined in the reasonable good faith judgment of such Buyer), in addition to any other remedy provided herein or in the Transaction Documents, such Buyer shall have the right to make a public disclosure, in the form of a press release, public advertisement or otherwise, of such breach or such material, non-public information, as applicable, without the prior approval by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees or agents.  No Buyer shall have any liability to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees, stockholders or agents, for any such disclosure. Subject to the foregoing, neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor any Buyer shall issue any press releases or any other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, the Company shall be entitled, without the prior approval of any Buyer, to make any press release or other public disclosure with respect to such transactions (i) in substantial conformity with the 8-K Filing and contemporaneously therewith and (ii) as is required by applicable law and regulations (provided that in the case of clause (i) each Buyer shall be consulted by the Company in connection with any such press release or other public disclosure prior to its release). Without the prior written consent of the applicable Buyer, the Company shall not (and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and affiliates to not) disclose the name of such Buyer in any filing, announcement, release or otherwise.
 

 
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(j)            Additional Registration Statements . Until the Applicable Date (as defined below) and at any time thereafter while any Registration Statement is not effective or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use, the Company shall not file a registration statement under the 1933 Act relating to securities that are not the Registrable Securities other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the 1933 Act). “ Applicable Date ” means the first date on which the resale by the Buyers of all Registrable Securities (i) is covered by one or more effective Registration Statements (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) (and each prospectus contained therein is available for use on such date) or (ii) may be made pursuant to Rule 144 without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1).
 
(k)            Additional Issuance of Securities . During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on such date after the Closing Date when no Buyer beneficially owns any Notes or Warrants, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of Buyers holding a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, issue any Notes (other than to the Buyers as contemplated hereby) and the Company shall not issue any other securities that would cause a breach or default under the Notes or the Warrants.  The Company agrees that for the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date immediately following the ninetieth (90th) Trading Day (as defined in the Warrants) anniversary of the Applicable Date (provided that such period shall be extended by the number of Trading Days during such period and any extension thereof contemplated by this proviso on which any Registration Statement is not effective or any prospectus contained therein is not available for use)(the “ Restricted Period ”), neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly issue, offer, sell, grant any option or right to purchase, or otherwise dispose of (or announce any issuance, offer, sale, grant of any option or right to purchase or other disposition of) any equity security or any equity-linked or related security (including, without limitation, any “equity security” (as that term is defined under Rule 405 promulgated under the 1933 Act), any Convertible Securities (as defined below), any debt, any preferred stock or any purchase rights) (any such issuance, offer, sale, grant, disposition or announcement (whether occurring during the Restricted Period or at any time thereafter) is referred to as a “ Subsequent Placement ”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 4(k) shall not apply in respect of any Excluded Securities (as defined in the Notes).
 
(l)            Reservation of Shares . During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on such date after the Closing Date when no Notes or Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall take all action necessary to at all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance, no less than 125% of (i) the maximum number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of all the Notes (assuming for purposes hereof that the Notes are convertible at the Conversion Price (as defined in the Notes) on the Closing Date and without taking into account any limitations on the conversion of the Notes set forth in the Notes), (ii) the maximum number of Interest Shares issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes from the Closing Date through the fifteen month anniversary of the Closing Date (determined as if issued on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Closing Date without taking into account any limitations on the issuance of securities set forth in the Notes) and (iii) the maximum number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of all the Warrants (without taking into account any limitations on the exercise of the Warrants set forth therein); provided , however , that with respect to the Notes, the Company shall initially reserve the Initial Reserve Amount (as defined in the Notes).
 

 
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(m)            Conduct of Business .  The business of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not be conducted in violation of any law, ordinance or regulation of any governmental entity, except where such violations would not result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(n)            Variable Rate Transaction . During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on such date after the Closing Date when no Notes remain outstanding, the Company and each Subsidiary shall be prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any Subsequent Placement involving a Variable Rate Transaction. “ Variable Rate Transaction ” means a transaction in which the Company or any Subsidiary (i) issues or sells any Convertible Securities either (A) at a conversion, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of Common Stock at any time after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities, or (B) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the Common Stock, other than pursuant to a customary “weighted average” anti-dilution provision or (ii) enters into any agreement (including, without limitation, an equity line of credit) whereby the Company or any Subsidiary may sell securities at a future determined price (other than standard and customary “preemptive” or “participation” rights). Each Buyer shall be entitled to obtain injunctive relief against the Company and its Subsidiaries to preclude any such issuance, which remedy shall be in addition to any right to collect damages.
 
(o)            Participation Right . Subject to the pre-emptive rights of the holders of the Company’s Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, from the date hereof (x) with respect to any Subsequent Placement that does not involve a Variable Rate Transaction, until the eighteen month anniversary of the Closing Date or (y) with respect to any Subsequent Placement involving a Variable Rate Transaction, until the later of (I) the eighteen month anniversary of the Closing Date and (ii) no Notes or Warrants remain outstanding, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, effect any Subsequent Placement unless the Company shall have first complied with this Section 4(o). The Company acknowledges and agrees that the right set forth in this Section 4(o) is a right granted by the Company, separately, to each Buyer.
 

 
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(i)             At least five (5) Trading Days prior to any proposed or intended Subsequent Placement, the Company shall deliver to each Buyer a written notice (each such notice, a “ Pre-Notice ”), which Pre-Notice shall not contain any information (including, without limitation, material, non-public information) other than: either (x) (A) a statement that the Company proposes or intends to effect a Subsequent Placement (which will not identify the Company by name), (B) a statement informing such Buyer that it is entitled to receive an Offer Notice (as defined below) with respect to such Subsequent Placement upon its written request and (C) a statement that the statement in clause (A) above does not constitute material, non-public information or (y) a statement by the Company or an agent to the Company asking if such Buyer is willing to receive material, non-public information with respect to the Company.  Upon the written request of a Buyer within three (3) Trading Days after the Company’s delivery to such Buyer of such Pre-Notice, and only upon a written request by such Buyer, the Company shall promptly, but no later than one (1) Trading Day after such request, deliver to such Buyer an irrevocable written notice (the “ Offer Notice ”) of any proposed or intended issuance or sale or exchange (the “ Offer ”) of the securities being offered (the “ Offered Securities ”) in a Subsequent Placement, which Offer Notice shall (w) identify and describe the Offered Securities, (x) describe the price and other terms upon which they are to be issued, sold or exchanged, and the number or amount of the Offered Securities to be issued, sold or exchanged, (y) identify the Persons (if known) to which or with which the Offered Securities are to be offered, issued, sold or exchanged and (z) offer to issue and sell to or exchange with such Buyer in accordance with the terms of the Offer such Buyer’s pro rata portion of 50% of the Offered Securities (a) based on such Buyer’s pro rata portion of the aggregate original principal amount of the Notes purchased hereunder by all Buyers (the “ Basic Amount ”), and (b) with respect to each Buyer that elects to purchase its Basic Amount, any additional portion of the Offered Securities attributable to the Basic Amounts of other Buyers as such Buyer shall indicate it will purchase or acquire should the other Buyers subscribe for less than their Basic Amounts (the “ Undersubscription Amount ”).

(ii)            To accept an Offer, in whole or in part, such Buyer must deliver a written notice to the Company prior to the end of the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after such Buyer’s receipt of the Offer Notice (the “ Offer Period ”), setting forth the portion of such Buyer’s Basic Amount that such Buyer elects to purchase and, if such Buyer shall elect to purchase all of its Basic Amount, the Undersubscription Amount, if any, that such Buyer elects to purchase (in either case, the “ Notice of Acceptance ”). If the Basic Amounts subscribed for by all Buyers are less than the total of all of the Basic Amounts, then such Buyer who has set forth an Undersubscription Amount in its Notice of Acceptance shall be entitled to purchase, in addition to the Basic Amounts subscribed for, the Undersubscription Amount it has subscribed for; provided, however, if the Undersubscription Amounts subscribed for exceed the difference between the total of all the Basic Amounts and the Basic Amounts subscribed for (the “ Available Undersubscription Amount ”), such Buyer who has subscribed for any Undersubscription Amount shall be entitled to purchase only that portion of the Available Undersubscription Amount as the Basic Amount of such Buyer bears to the total Basic Amounts of all Buyers that have subscribed for Undersubscription Amounts, subject to rounding by the Company to the extent it deems reasonably necessary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company desires to modify or amend the terms and conditions of the Offer prior to the expiration of the Offer Period, the Company may deliver to each Buyer a new Offer Notice and the Offer Period shall expire on the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after such Buyer’s receipt of such new Offer Notice.


 
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(iii)           The Company shall have five (5) days from the expiration of the Offer Period above (i) to offer, issue, sell or exchange all or any part of such Offered Securities as to which a Notice of Acceptance has not been given by a Buyer (the “ Refused Securities ”) pursuant to a definitive agreement(s) (the “ Subsequent Placement Agreement ”), but only to the offerees described in the Offer Notice (if so described therein) and only upon terms and conditions (including, without limitation, unit prices and interest rates) that are not more favorable to the acquiring Person or Persons or less favorable to the Company than those set forth in the Offer Notice and (ii) to publicly announce (a) the execution of such Subsequent Placement Agreement, and (b) either (x) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such Subsequent Placement Agreement or (y) the termination of such Subsequent Placement Agreement, which shall be filed with the SEC on a Current Report on Form 8-K with such Subsequent Placement Agreement and any documents contemplated therein filed as exhibits thereto.

(iv)           In the event the Company shall propose to sell less than all the Refused Securities (any such sale to be in the manner and on the terms specified in Section 4(o)(iii) above), then such Buyer may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion, reduce the number or amount of the Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance to an amount that shall be not less than the number or amount of the Offered Securities that such Buyer elected to purchase pursuant to Section 4(o)(ii) above multiplied by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number or amount of Offered Securities the Company actually proposes to issue, sell or exchange (including Offered Securities to be issued or sold to Buyers pursuant to this Section 4(o) prior to such reduction) and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the original amount of the Offered Securities. In the event that any Buyer so elects to reduce the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance, the Company may not issue, sell or exchange more than the reduced number or amount of the Offered Securities unless and until such securities have again been offered to the Buyers in accordance with Section 4(o)(i) above.

(v)           Upon the closing of the issuance, sale or exchange of all or less than all of the Refused Securities, such Buyer shall acquire from the Company, and the Company shall issue to such Buyer, the number or amount of Offered Securities specified in its Notice of Acceptance. The purchase by such Buyer of any Offered Securities is subject in all cases to the preparation, execution and delivery by the Company and such Buyer of a separate purchase agreement relating to such Offered Securities reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to such Buyer and its counsel.
 
 
 
 

 

 
(vi)           Any Offered Securities not acquired by a Buyer or other Persons in accordance with this Section 4(o) may not be issued, sold or exchanged until they are again offered to such Buyer under the procedures specified in this Agreement.

(vii)           The Company and each Buyer agree that if any Buyer elects to participate in the Offer, neither the Subsequent Placement Agreement with respect to such Offer nor any other transaction documents related thereto (collectively, the “ Subsequent Placement Documents ”) shall include any term or provision whereby such Buyer shall be required to agree to any restrictions on trading as to any securities of the Company or be required to consent to any amendment to or termination of, or grant any waiver, release or the like under or in connection with, any agreement previously entered into with the Company or any instrument received from the Company.

(viii)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(o) and unless otherwise agreed to by such Buyer, the Company shall either confirm in writing to such Buyer that the transaction with respect to the Subsequent Placement has been abandoned or shall publicly disclose its intention to issue the Offered Securities, in either case, in such a manner such that such Buyer will not be in possession of any material, non-public information, by the fifth (5 th ) Business Day following delivery of the Offer Notice. If by such fifth (5 th ) Business Day, no public disclosure regarding a transaction with respect to the Offered Securities has been made, and no notice regarding the abandonment of such transaction has been received by such Buyer, such transaction shall be deemed to have been abandoned and such Buyer shall not be deemed to be in possession of any material, non-public information with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Should the Company decide to pursue such transaction with respect to the Offered Securities, the Company shall provide such Buyer with another Offer Notice and such Buyer will again have the right of participation set forth in this Section 4(o). The Company shall not be permitted to deliver more than one such Offer Notice to such Buyer in any sixty (60) day period.
 
(ix)           The restrictions contained in this Section 4(o) shall not apply in connection with the issuance of any Excluded Securities.  The Company shall not circumvent the provisions of this Section 4(o) by providing terms or conditions to one Buyer that are not provided to all.
 
(p)            Dilutive Issuances .  During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on such date after the Closing Date when no Notes or Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall not, in any manner, enter into or affect any Dilutive Issuance (as defined in the Notes) if the effect of such Dilutive Issuance is to cause the Company to be required to issue upon conversion of any Notes or exercise of any Warrant any shares of Common Stock in excess of that number of shares of Common Stock which the Company may issue upon conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants without breaching the Company's obligations under the rules or regulations of the Principal Market.
 
 
 

 
 
(q)            Passive Foreign Investment Company .  The Company shall conduct its business in such a manner as will ensure that the Company will not be deemed to constitute a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of Section 1297 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
(r)            Restriction on Redemption and Cash Dividends . During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on such date after the Closing Date when no Notes remain outstanding, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly, redeem, or pay any cash dividend or distribution on, any capital stock of the Company without the prior express written consent of the Buyers.
 
(s)            Corporate Existence .  During the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on such date after the Closing Date when no Notes or Warrants remain outstanding, the Company shall not be party to any Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Notes) unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Notes and the Warrants.
 
(t)            Closing Documents .  On or prior to fourteen (14) calendar days after the Closing Date, the Company agrees to deliver, or cause to be delivered, to each Buyer and Greenberg Traurig, LLP executed copies of the Transaction Documents, Securities and other document required to be delivered to any party pursuant to Section 7 hereof.
 
5.
REGISTER; TRANSFER AGENT INSTRUCTIONS; LEGEND.
 
(a)            Register . The Company shall maintain at its principal executive offices (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice to each holder of Securities), a register for the Notes and the Warrants in which the Company shall record the name and address of the Person in whose name the Notes and   the Warrants have been issued (including the name and address of each transferee), the principal amount of the Notes held by such Person, the number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes, the number of Interest Shares issuable with respect to the Notes and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by such Person. The Company shall keep the register open and available at all times during business hours for inspection of any Buyer or its legal representatives.
 

 
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(b)            Transfer Agent Instructions . The Company shall issue irrevocable instructions to its transfer agent and any subsequent transfer agent in a form acceptable to each of the Buyers (the “ Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions ”) to issue certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”), registered in the name of each Buyer or its respective nominee(s), for the Conversion Shares, the Interest Shares and the Warrant Shares in such amounts as specified from time to time by each Buyer to the Company upon conversion of the Notes or the exercise of the Warrants (as the case may be). The Company represents and warrants that no instruction other than the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions referred to in this Section 5(b), and stop transfer instructions to give effect to Section 2(g) hereof, will be given by the Company to its transfer agent with respect to the Securities, and that the Securities shall otherwise be freely transferable on the books and records of the Company, as applicable, to the extent provided in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents. If a Buyer effects a sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities in accordance with Section 2(g), the Company shall permit the transfer and shall promptly instruct its transfer agent to issue one or more certificates or credit shares to the applicable balance accounts at DTC in such name and in such denominations as specified by such Buyer to effect such sale, transfer or assignment. In the event that such sale, assignment or transfer involves Conversion Shares, Interest Shares or Warrant Shares sold, assigned or transferred pursuant to an effective registration statement or in compliance with Rule 144, the transfer agent shall issue such shares to such Buyer, assignee or transferee (as the case may be) without any restrictive legend in accordance with Section 5(d) below. The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to a Buyer. Accordingly, the Company acknowledges that the remedy at law for a breach of its obligations under this Section 5(b) will be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Company of the provisions of this Section 5(b), that a Buyer shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an order and/or injunction restraining any breach and requiring immediate issuance and transfer, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall cause its counsel to issue the legal opinion referred to in the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions to the Company’s transfer agent on each Effective Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement). Any fees (with respect to the transfer agent, counsel to the Company or otherwise) associated with the issuance of such opinion or the removal of any legends on any of the Securities shall be borne by the Company.
 
(c)            Legends . Each Buyer understands that the Securities have been issued (or will be issued in the case of the Conversion Shares, Interest Shares and the Warrant Shares) pursuant to an exemption from registration or qualification under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, and except as set forth below, the Securities shall bear any legend as required by the “blue sky” laws of any state and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and a stop-transfer order may be placed against transfer of such stock certificates):
 
[NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE [CONVERTIBLE] [EXERCISABLE] HAVE BEEN][THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN] REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.  THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE HOLDER (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY), IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
 
 
 
 

 
 
(d)              Removal of Legends . Certificates evidencing Securities shall not be required to contain the legend set forth in Section 5(c) above or any other legend (i) while a registration statement (including a Registration Statement) covering the resale of such Securities is effective under the 1933 Act, (ii) following any sale of such Securities pursuant to Rule 144 (assuming the transferor is not an affiliate of the Company), (iii) if such Securities are eligible to be sold, assigned or transferred under Rule 144 (provided that a Buyer provides the Company with reasonable assurances that such Securities are eligible for sale, assignment or transfer under Rule 144 which shall not include an opinion of counsel), (iv) in connection with a sale, assignment or other transfer (other than under Rule 144), provided that such Buyer provides the Company with an opinion of counsel to such Buyer, in a generally acceptable form, to the effect that such sale, assignment or transfer of the Securities may be made without registration under the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act or (v) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the 1933 Act (including, without limitation, controlling judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the SEC). If a legend is not required pursuant to the foregoing, the Company shall no later than two (2) Trading Days following the delivery by a Buyer to the Company or the transfer agent (with notice to the Company) of a legended certificate representing such Securities (endorsed or with stock powers attached, signatures guaranteed, and otherwise in form necessary to affect the reissuance and/or transfer, if applicable), together with any other deliveries from such Buyer as may be required above in this Section 5(d), as directed by such Buyer, either: (A) provided that the Company’s transfer agent is participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program and such Securities are Conversion Shares, Interest Shares or Warrant Shares, credit the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which such Buyer shall be entitled to such Buyer’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/Withdrawal at Custodian system or (B) if the Company’s transfer agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver (via reputable overnight courier) to such Buyer, a certificate representing such Securities that is free from all restrictive and other legends, registered in the name of such Buyer or its designee (the date by which such credit is so required to be made to the balance account of such Buyer’s or such Buyer’s nominee with DTC or such certificate is required to be delivered to such Buyer pursuant to the foregoing is referred to herein as the “ Required Delivery Date ”).

(e)            Failure to Timely Deliver; Buy-In . If the Company fails to so properly deliver such unlegended certificates or so properly credit the balance account of such Buyer’s or such Buyer’s nominee with DTC by the Required Delivery Date, and if on or after the Required Delivery Date such Buyer purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Buyer of shares of Common Stock that such Buyer anticipated receiving from the Company without any restrictive legend, then, in addition to all other remedies available to such Buyer, the Company shall, within three (3) Trading Days after such Buyer’s request and in such Buyer’s sole discretion, either (i) pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to such Buyer’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “ Buy-In Price ”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate or credit such Buyer’s balance account shall terminate and such shares shall be cancelled, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to such Buyer a certificate or certificates or credit such Buyer’s DTC account representing such number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued if the Company timely complied with its obligations hereunder and pay cash to such Buyer in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Conversion Shares, Interest Shares or Warrant Shares (as the case may be) that the Company was required to deliver to such Buyer by the Required Delivery Date times (B) the Closing Sale Price (as defined in the Warrants) of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Required Delivery Date.
 

 
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6.
CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY’S OBLIGATION TO SELL.
 
(a)           The obligation of the Company hereunder to issue and sell the Notes   and the related Warrants to each Buyer at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for the Company’s sole benefit and may be waived by the Company at any time in its sole discretion by providing each Buyer with prior written notice thereof:
 
(i)             Such Buyer shall have executed each of the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same to the Company.
 
(ii)            Such Buyer shall have delivered to the Company the Purchase Price (less, in the case of any Buyer, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) for the Notes and the related Warrants being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions provided by the Company.
 
(iii)           The Buyers shall be purchasing at least $15 million in principal amount of the Notes at the Closing.
 
(iv)           The representations and warranties of such Buyer shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date), and such Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date (except for such representations and warranties that fail to be true and correct in all material respects and/or such covenants, agreements and conditions, that fail to be performed, satisfied or complied with, primarily due to the actions (or failure to act and/or cooperate with such Buyer) by the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries).
 
7.
CONDITIONS TO EACH BUYER’S OBLIGATION TO PURCHASE.
 
(a)           The obligation of each Buyer hereunder to purchase its Note   and its related Warrants at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for each Buyer’s sole benefit and may be waived by such Buyer at any time in its sole discretion by providing the Company with prior written notice thereof:
 
(i)           The Company and each Subsidiary (as the case may be) shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the Company shall have duly executed and delivered to such Buyer such a Note (in such original principal amount as is set forth across from such Buyer’s name in column (3) of the Schedule of Buyers)   and the related Warrants (for such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock as is set forth across from such Buyer’s name in column (4) of the Schedule of Buyers) being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
 

 
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(ii)             Such Buyer shall have received the opinion of Rutan & Tucker LLP, the Company’s counsel, dated as of the Closing Date, in the form acceptable to such Buyer.
 
(iii)           The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a copy of the Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions, in the form acceptable to such Buyer, which instructions shall have been delivered to and acknowledged in writing by the Company’s transfer agent.
 
(iv)           The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the formation and good standing of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries in each such entity’s jurisdiction of formation issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such jurisdiction of formation as of a date within ten (10) days of the Closing Date.
 
(v)            The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate evidencing the Company’s and each Subsidiary’s qualification as a foreign corporation and good standing issued by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of each jurisdiction in which the Company and each Subsidiary conducts business and is required to so qualify, as of a date within ten (10) days of the Closing Date.
 
(vi)            The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of the Certificate of Incorporation as certified by the Delaware Secretary of State within ten (10) days of the Closing Date.
 
(vii)           Each Subsidiary shall have delivered to such Buyer a certified copy of its certificate of incorporation as certified by the Secretary of State (or comparable office) of such Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of incorporation within ten (10) days of the Closing Date.
 
(viii)          The Company and each Subsidiary shall have delivered to such Buyer a certificate, in the form acceptable to such Buyer, executed by the Secretary of the Company and each Subsidiary and dated as of the Closing Date, as to (i) only with respect to the Company, the resolutions consistent with Section 3(b) as adopted by the Company’s  board of directors in a form reasonably acceptable to such Buyer, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the organizational documents of each Subsidiary and (iii) the Bylaws of the Company and the bylaws or operating agreement of each Subsidiary, each as in effect at the Closing.
 
(ix)            Each and every representation and warranty of the Company shall be true and correct as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date) and the Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required to be performed, satisfied or complied with by the Company at or prior to the Closing Date. Such Buyer shall have received a certificate, duly executed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect and as to such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer in the form acceptable to such Buyer.
 

 
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(x)            The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer a letter from the Company’s transfer agent certifying the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the Closing Date immediately prior to the Closing.
 
(xi)            The Common Stock (I) shall be designated for quotation or listed (as applicable) on the Principal Market and (II) shall not have been suspended, as of the Closing Date, by the SEC or the Principal Market from trading on the Principal Market nor shall suspension by the SEC have been threatened, as of the Closing Date.
 
(xii)           The Company shall have obtained all governmental, regulatory or third party consents and approvals, if any, necessary for the sale of the Securities, including without limitation, those required by the Principal Market.
 
(xiii)           No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
 
(xiv)           Since the date of execution of this Agreement, no event or series of events shall have occurred that reasonably would have or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
 
(xv)            The Company shall have obtained approval of the Principal Market to list or designate for quotation (as the case may be) the Conversion Shares, the Interest Shares and the Warrant Shares.
 
(xvi)           Within two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing, the Company shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to each Buyer true copies of UCC search results, listing all effective financing statements which name as debtor the Company or any of its Subsidiaries filed in the prior five years to perfect an interest in any assets thereof, together with copies of such financing statements and the results of searches for any tax lien and judgment lien filed against such Person or its property, which results, except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Buyers shall not show any Liens.
 
(xvii)           The Company shall have delivered to such Buyer (A) copies of any duly New PE Holdco Purchase Agreements, (B) such documentation with respect to the Call Option as may be reasonably requested by such Buyer and (C) evidence reasonably satisfactory to such Buyer that all conditions to closing of the New PE Holdco Purchase Agreements, if any, and the Call Option have been satisfied in all respects (other than the delivery of the purchase price thereunder).
 
(xviii)           Each other Buyer shall have delivered to the Company the Purchase Price (less, in the case of any Buyer, the amounts withheld pursuant to Section 4(g)) for the Notes and the related Warrants being purchased by such Buyer at the Closing by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions provided by the Company.
 

 
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(xix)           The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have delivered to such Buyer such other documents relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as such Buyer or its counsel may reasonably request.
 
8.
TERMINATION.
 
In the event that the Closing shall not have occurred with respect to a Buyer within fourteen calendar days of the date hereof, then such Buyer shall have the right to terminate its obligations under this Agreement with respect to itself at any time on or after the close of business on such date without liability of such Buyer to any other party; provided, however, (i) the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8 shall not be available to such Buyer if the failure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to have been consummated by such date is the result of such Buyer’s breach of this Agreement and (ii) the abandonment of the sale and purchase of the Notes and the Warrants shall be applicable only to such Buyer providing such written notice, provided further that no such termination shall affect any obligation of the Company under this Agreement to reimburse such Buyer for the expenses described in Section 4(g) above. Nothing contained in this Section 8 shall be deemed to release any party from any liability for any breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or to impair the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other party of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.

9.
MISCELLANEOUS.
 
(a)            Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Jury Trial . All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
 

 
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(b)            Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
 
(c)            Headings; Gender . The headings of this Agreement are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Agreement. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.”  The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
 
(d)            Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (and without implication that the following is required or applicable), it is the intention of the parties that in no event shall amounts and value paid by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries (as the case may be), or payable to or received by the Buyers, under the Transaction Documents (including without limitation, any amounts that would be characterized as “interest” under applicable law) exceed amounts permitted under any such applicable law. Accordingly, if any obligation to pay, payment made to such Buyer, or collection by such Buyer pursuant the Transaction Documents is finally judicially determined to be contrary to any such applicable law, such obligation to pay, payment or collection shall be deemed to have been made by mutual mistake of such Buyer, the Company and its Subsidiaries and such amount shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by the applicable law. Such adjustment shall be effected, to the extent necessary, by reducing or refunding, at the option of such Buyer, the amount of interest or any other amounts which would constitute unlawful amounts required to be paid or actually paid to such Buyer under the Transaction Documents. For greater certainty, to the extent that any interest, charges, fees, expenses or other amounts required to be paid to or received by such Buyer under any of the Transaction Documents or related thereto are held to be within the meaning of “interest” or another applicable term to otherwise be violative of applicable law, such amounts shall be pro-rated over the period of time to which they relate.
 

 
33

 

(e)            Entire Agreement; Amendments . This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all other prior oral or written agreements between the Buyers, the Company, its Subsidiaries, their affiliates and Persons acting on their behalf solely with respect to the matters contained herein and therein, and this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein contain the entire understanding of the parties solely with respect to the matters covered herein and therein; provided, however, nothing contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall (or shall be deemed to) (i) have any effect on any agreements any Buyer has entered into with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof with respect to any prior investment made by such Buyer in the Company or (ii) waive, alter, modify or amend in any respect any obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any rights of or benefits to any Buyer or any other Person, in any agreement entered into prior to the date hereof between or among the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and any Buyer and all such agreements shall continue in full force and effect. Except as specifically set forth herein or therein, neither the Company nor any Buyer makes any representation, warranty, covenant or undertaking with respect to such matters. For clarification purposes, the Recitals are part of this Agreement. No provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived other than by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities (excluding any Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) issued or issuable hereunder or pursuant to the Notes or Warrants, provided that any party may give a waiver in writing as to itself. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents, all holders of the Notes or all holders of the Warrants (as the case may be). The Company has not, directly or indirectly, made any agreements with any Buyers relating to the terms or conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents except as set forth in the Transaction Documents. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company confirms that, except as set forth in this Agreement, no Buyer has made any commitment or promise or has any other obligation to provide any financing to the Company, any Subsidiary or otherwise.
 
(f)            Notices . Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iii) one (1) Business Day after deposit with an overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
 
If to the Company:
 
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 2060
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone:  (916) 403-2123
Facsimile:  (916) 403-3937
Attention:  Chief Executive Officer


 
34

 

With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:
 
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 2060
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone:  (916) 403-2130
Facsimile:  (916) 403-3936
Attention:  General Counsel

Rutan & Tucker, LLP
611 Anton Blvd., 14 th Floor
Costa Mesa, CA  92626
Telephone:  (714) 641-5100
Facsimile:  (714) 546-9035
Attention:  Larry A. Cerutti, Esq.
 
If to the Transfer Agent:
 
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
6201 15 th Avenue, 2 nd Floor
Brooklyn, New York  11219
Telephone:  (718) 921-8360
Facsimile:  (718) 921-8310
Attention:  Marianela Patterson

If to a Buyer, to its address and facsimile number set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, with copies to such Buyer’s representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers,
 
with a copy (for informational purposes only) to:
 
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
MetLife Building
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166
Telephone:  (212) 801-9200
Facsimile:  (212) 805-9222
Attention:  Michael A. Adelstein, Esq.
 
or to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change, provided that Greenberg Traurig, LLP shall only be provided copies of notices sent to the lead investor. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by an overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from an overnight courier service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
 

 
35

 

(g)           Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns, including, as contemplated below, any assignee of any of the Securities. The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities (excluding any Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) issued or issuable hereunder or pursuant to the Notes or Warrants, including, without limitation, by way of a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Warrants) (unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Warrants) or a Fundamental Transaction (as defined in the Notes) (unless the Company is in compliance with the applicable provisions governing Fundamental Transactions set forth in the Notes).  A Buyer may assign some or all of its rights hereunder in connection with any transfer of any of its Securities without the consent of the Company, in which event such assignee shall be deemed to be a Buyer hereunder with respect to such assigned rights.
 
(h)           No Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, other than the Indemnitees referred to in Section 9(k).
 
(i)            Survival . The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants shall survive the Closing. Each Buyer shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder.
 
(j)            Further Assurances . Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
(k)           Indemnification .  In consideration of each Buyer’s execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and acquiring the Securities thereunder and in addition to all of the Company’s other obligations under the Transaction Documents, the Company shall defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless each Buyer and each holder of any Securities and all of their stockholders, partners, members, officers, directors, employees and direct or indirect investors and any of the foregoing Persons’ agents or other representatives (including, without limitation, those retained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) (collectively, the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all actions, causes of action, suits, claims, losses, costs, penalties, fees, liabilities and damages, and expenses in connection therewith (irrespective of whether any such Indemnitee is a party to the action for which indemnification hereunder is sought), and including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements (the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”), incurred by any Indemnitee as a result of, or arising out of, or relating to (a) any misrepresentation or breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company or any Subsidiary in any of the Transaction Documents, (b) any breach of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary contained in any of the Transaction Documents or (c) any cause of action, suit or claim brought or made against such Indemnitee by a third party (including for these purposes a derivative action brought on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary) and arising out of or resulting from (i) the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents, (ii) any transaction financed or to be financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, with the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities, (iii) any disclosure properly made by such Buyer pursuant to Section 4(i), or (iv) the status of such Buyer or holder of the Securities as an investor in the Company pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. To the extent that the foregoing undertaking by the Company may be unenforceable for any reason, the Company shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. Except as otherwise set forth herein, the mechanics and procedures with respect to the rights and obligations under this Section 9(k) shall be the same as those set forth in Section 6 of the Registration Rights Agreement.
 

 
36

 

(l)            Construction . The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party.
 
(m)            Remedies .  Each Buyer and each holder of any Securities shall have all rights and remedies set forth in the Transaction Documents and all rights and remedies which such holders have been granted at any time under any other agreement or contract and all of the rights which such holders have under any law. Any Person having any rights under any provision of this Agreement shall be entitled to enforce such rights specifically (without posting a bond or other security), to recover damages by reason of any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights granted by law. Furthermore, the Company recognizes that in the event that it or any Subsidiary fails to perform, observe, or discharge any or all of its or such Subsidiary’s (as the case may be) obligations under the Transaction Documents, any remedy at law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Buyers. The Company therefore agrees that the Buyers shall be entitled to seek specific performance and/or temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting a bond or other security.
 
(n)            Withdrawal Right . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) the Transaction Documents, whenever any Buyer exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company or any Subsidiary does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Buyer may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be), any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.
 
(o)            Payment Set Aside; Currency . To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Buyer hereunder or pursuant to any of the other Transaction Documents or any of the Buyers enforce or exercise their rights hereunder or thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, foreign, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred. Until the Warrants and all warrants issued pursuant to the terms thereof are no longer outstanding, the Company shall not effect any stock combination, reverse stock split or other similar transaction (or make any public announcement with respect to any of the foregoing) without the prior written consent of each of the Buyers, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.  Unless otherwise expressly indicated, all dollar amounts referred to in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are in United States Dollars (“ U.S. Dollars ”), and all amounts owing under this Agreement and all other Transaction Documents shall be paid in U.S. Dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies (if any) shall be converted in the U.S. Dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. “ Exchange Rate   means, in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into U.S. Dollars pursuant to this Agreement, the U.S. Dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the relevant date of calculation.
 

 
37

 

(q)             Independent Nature of Buyers’ Obligations and Rights .  The obligations of each Buyer under the Transaction Documents are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Buyer, and no Buyer shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Buyer under any Transaction Document.  Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Buyer pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Buyers as, and the Company acknowledges that the Buyers do not so constitute, a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Buyers are in any way acting in concert or as a group or entity with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or any matters, and the Company acknowledges that the Buyers are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The decision of each Buyer to purchase Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made by such Buyer independently of any other Buyer. Each Buyer acknowledges that no other Buyer has acted as agent for such Buyer in connection with such Buyer making its investment hereunder and that no other Buyer will be acting as agent of such Buyer in connection with monitoring such Buyer’s investment in the Securities or enforcing its rights under the Transaction Documents. The Company and each Buyer confirms that each Buyer has independently participated with the Company and its Subsidiaries in the negotiation of the transaction contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors. Each Buyer shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Buyer to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.  The use of a single agreement to effectuate the purchase and sale of the Securities contemplated hereby was solely in the control of the Company, not the action or decision of any Buyer, and was done solely for the convenience of the Company and its Subsidiaries and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Buyer.  It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement and in each other Transaction Document is between the Company, each Subsidiary and a Buyer, solely, and not between the Company, its Subsidiaries and the Buyers collectively and not between and among the Buyers.
 
[ signature pages follow ]
 
 
 
 

 
38

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
COMPANY:
 
       
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
 
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Neil M. Koehler  
    Name: Neil M. Koehler  
    Title: Chief Executive Officer  
       

 
 
 
39

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
BUYERS:
 
       
 
HUDSON BAY MASTER FUND LTD.
 
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Yoav Roth  
    Name: Yoav Roth  
    Title: Authorized Signatory  
       


 

 

 
40

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
J.P. MORGAN OMNI SPC, LTD. - BIOV1 SEGREGATED PORTFOLIO
By: Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, its investment advisor
       
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Yoav Roth  
    Name: Yoav Roth  
    Title: Authorized Signatory  
       


 

 
41

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
CAPITAL VENTURES INTERNATIONAL
     by: Heights Capital Management, its authorized agent  
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Martin Kobinger  
    Name: Martin Kobinger  
    Title: Investment Manager  
       

 

 
42

 
 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
LIBERTY HARBOR MASTER FUND I, L.P.
       
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Brendan McGovern  
    Name: Brendan McGovern  
    Title: Authorized Signatory  
       

 

 
 
43

 
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
LIBERTY HARBOR DISTRESSED CREDIT AGGREGATOR I, L.P.
 
       
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Brendan McGovern  
    Name: Brendan McGovern  
    Title: Authorized Signatory  
       

 
 
 
44

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
GOLDMAN SACHS TC MASTER PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
       
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Brendan McGovern  
    Name: Brendan McGovern  
    Title: Authorized Signatory  
       


 
 

 

 
45

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
   
 
 
IROQUOIS MASTER FUND LTD
       
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Josh Silverman  
    Name: Josh Silverman  
    Title: Authorized Signatory  
       

 
 

 
46

 

SCHEDULE OF BUYERS

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
 
Buyer
 
Address and Facsimile Number
 
Original Principal
Amount of Notes
 
Aggregate
Number of
 Warrant Shares
 
Purchase
Price
Legal Representative’s
Address and Facsimile Number
           
Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd.
120 Broadway, 40th Floor
New York, New York 10271
Attention: Yoav Roth
Facsimile:  (646) 214-7946
Telephone: (212) 571-1244
Residence: United States
E-mail: investments@hudsonbaycapital.com
 
$10,000,000
5,882,353
$10,000,000
N/A
J.P. Morgan Omni SPC, Ltd. - BIOV1 Segregated Portfolio
120 Broadway, 40th Floor
New York, New York 10271
Attention: Yoav Roth
Facsimile:  (646) 214-7946
Telephone: (212) 571-1244
Residence: United States
E-mail: investments@hudsonbaycapital.com
 
$5,000,000
2,941,176
$5,000,000
N/A
Capital Ventures International
c/o Heights Capital Management
101 California Street, Suite 3250
San Francisco, CA 94111
Attention: Martin Kobinger,
Investment Manager
Facsimile: 415-403-6525
Telephone: 415-403-6500
Residence: Cayman Islands
 
$3,000,000
1,764,706
$3,000,000
N/A
Liberty Harbor Master Fund I, L.P.
c/o Goldman Sachs Asset Management
200 West Street
New York NY 10282
Attention: Thomas N. Secor
Facsimile:  (212) 428-1505
Telephone: (212) 357-7910
Residence: Cayman Islands
E-mail: thomas.secor@gs.com
 
$8,000,000
4,705,882
$8,000,000
N/A
Liberty Harbor Distressed Credit Aggregator I, L.P.
c/o Goldman Sachs Asset Management
200 West Street
New York NY 10282
Attention: Thomas N. Secor
Facsimile:  (212) 428-1505
Telephone: (212) 357-7910
Residence: Cayman Islands
E-mail: thomas.secor@gs.com
 
$3,500,000
2,058,824
$3,500,000
N/A
Goldman Sachs TC Master Partnership, L.P.
c/o Goldman Sachs Asset Management
200 West Street
New York NY 10282
Attention: Thomas N. Secor
Facsimile:  (212) 428-1505
Telephone: (212) 357-7910
Residence: Cayman Islands
E-mail: thomas.secor@gs.com
 
$2,500,000
1,470,588
$2,500,000
N/A
Iroquois Master Fund Ltd.
Iroquois Master Fund Ltd.
641 Lexington Avenue
26th  Floor
New York, New York  10022
Facsimile: (212) 207-3452
Residence: Cayman Islands
$3,000,000
1,764,706
$3,000,000
N/A

 
 
 
 47


Exhibit 10.2
 
[FORM OF SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTE]
 
NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE CONVERTIBLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE HOLDER (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY), IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS NOTE SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING SECTIONS 3(c)(iii)  AND 18(a) HEREOF.  THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE AND, ACCORDINGLY, THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION HEREOF MAY BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNTS SET FORTH ON THE FACE HEREOF PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(c)(iii) OF THIS NOTE.
 
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
 
Senior Convertible Note
 
Issuance Date:  September  __, 2010
Original Principal Amount: U.S. $[         ]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby promises to pay to the order of [HUDSON BAY MASTER FUND, LTD.], [OTHER BUYERS] or its registered assigns (“ Holder ”) the amount set out above as the Original Principal Amount (as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to redemption, conversion or otherwise, the “ Principal ”) when due, whether upon the Maturity Date, on any Installment Date with respect to the Installment Amount due on such Installment Date (each as defined below), acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof) and to pay interest (“ Interest ”) on any outstanding Principal (as defined below) at the applicable Interest Rate (as defined below) from the date set out above as the Issuance Date (the “ Issuance Date ”) until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date, on any Installment Date with respect to the Installment Amount due on such Installment Date, acceleration, conversion, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof). This Senior Convertible Note (including all Senior Convertible Notes issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this “ Note ”) is one of an issue of Senior Convertible Notes issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement (as defined below) on the Closing Date (as defined below) (collectively, the “ Notes ” and such other Senior Convertible Notes, the “ Other Notes ”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 31.
 
 
1

 
 
1.   PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL . On each Installment Date (which includes the Maturity Date), the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount equal to the Installment Amount due on such Installment Date in accordance with Section 8.  On the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and unpaid Late Charges on such Principal and Interest.  Other than as specifically permitted by this Note, the Company may not prepay any portion of the outstanding Principal, accrued and unpaid Interest or accrued and unpaid Late Charges on Principal and Interest, if any.
 
2.   INTEREST; INTEREST RATE .  Interest on this Note shall accrue at the Interest Rate and shall commence accruing on the Issuance Date and Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and twelve 30-day months and shall be payable in arrears on each Installment Date and shall compound each calendar month and shall be payable in accordance with the terms of this Note.  From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the Interest Rate shall automatically be increased to fifteen percent (15%). In the event that such Event of Default is subsequently cured, the adjustment referred to in the preceding sentence shall cease to be effective as of the date of such cure, provided that the Interest as calculated and unpaid at such increased rate during the continuance of such Event of Default shall continue to apply to the extent relating to the days after the occurrence of such Event of Default through and including the date of such cure of such Event of Default.
 
3.   CONVERSION OF NOTES . This Note shall be convertible into shares of Common Stock (as defined below), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 3.
 
(a)   Conversion Right . Subject to the provisions of Section 3(d), at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, the Holder shall be entitled to convert any portion of the outstanding and unpaid Conversion Amount (as defined below) into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 3(c), at the Conversion Rate (as defined below).  The Company shall not issue any fraction of a share of Common Stock upon any conversion.  If the issuance would result in the issuance of a fraction of a share of Common Stock, the Company shall round such fraction of a share of Common Stock up to the nearest whole share. The Company shall pay any and all transfer, stamp, issuance and similar taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Common Stock upon conversion of any Conversion Amount.
 
(b)   Conversion Rate . The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Conversion Amount pursuant to Section 3(a) shall be determined by dividing (x) such Conversion Amount by (y) the Conversion Price (the “ Conversion Rate ”).
 
(i)   " Conversion Price " means, for any Conversion Date, the lesser of (x) the Fixed Conversion Price and (y) solely to the extent either (I) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (II) the Company has elected (or is deemed to have elected) a Company Conversion (as defined below) of the Installment Amount payable on the Installment Date of the thirty day period in which the applicable Conversion Date occurs, the Installment Period Conversion Price.
 
 
2

 
 
(ii)   Conversion Amount ” means the sum of (x) the portion of the Principal to be converted, redeemed or otherwise with respect to which this determination is being made, (y) all accrued and unpaid Interest with respect to such portion of the Principal amount and accrued and unpaid Late Charges with respect to such portion of such Principal and such Interest and (z) except with respect to a Company Conversion (as defined in Section 8 hereof) or a Company Redemption (as defined in Section 8 hereof), the applicable Make-Whole Amount.
 
(iii)   Fixed Conversion Price ” means, as of any Conversion Date or other applicable date of determination, $0.85, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
 
(iv)   Installment Period Conversion Price ” means, for any Conversion Date occurring (i) during any Installment Market Price Period, the Installment Market Price then in effect for such Installment Market Price Period and (ii) during any Installment Variable Price Period, the Installment Variable Price then in effect for such Conversion Date.
 
(v)   Installment Market Price Period ” means the fifteen calendar day period following (and inclusive of) an Installment Date.
 
(vi)   Installment Market Price ” means with respect to any Installment Market Price Period, the Market Price as of the Installment Date in such Installment Market Price Period.  All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any share dividend, share split, share combination or other similar transaction during the applicable Installment Market Price Period.
 
(vii)   Installment Variable Price Period ” means the period commencing on the calendar day immediately following the end of an Installment Market Price Period and ending (x) on the calendar day immediately prior to the next Installment Date or (y) on and including the Maturity Date, as applicable.
 
(viii)   Installment Variable Price ” means, with respect to any Conversion Date during the applicable Installment Variable Price Period or at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Closing Bid Price on the Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Conversion Date.  All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any share dividend, share split, share combination or other similar transaction during the period commencing on the close of trading on the Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Conversion Date ending at the time of conversion on such Conversion Date.
 
 
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(c)   Mechanics of Conversion .
 
(i)   Optional Conversion . To convert any Conversion Amount into shares of Common Stock on any date (a “ Conversion Date ”), the Holder shall (A) deliver (whether via facsimile or otherwise), for receipt on or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York time, on such date, a copy of an executed notice of conversion in the form attached hereto as Exhibit I (the “ Conversion Notice ”) to the Company and (B) if required by Section 3(c)(iii) , surrender this Note to a nationally recognized overnight delivery service for delivery to the Company (or an indemnification undertaking with respect to this Note in the case of its loss, theft or destruction as contemplated by Section 18(b) ). On or before the first (1st) Trading Day following the date of receipt of a Conversion Notice, the Company shall transmit by facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of such Conversion Notice to the Holder and the Company’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”). On or before the third (3 rd ) Trading Day following the date of receipt of a Conversion Notice (the “ Share Delivery Date ”), the Company shall (1) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in The Depository Trust Company’s (“ DTC ”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder shall be entitled to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal at Custodian system or (2) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver (via reputable overnight courier) to the address as specified in the Conversion Notice, a certificate, registered in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder shall be entitled. If this Note is physically surrendered for conversion as required by Section 3(c)(iii)  and the outstanding Principal of this Note is greater than the Principal portion of the Conversion Amount being converted, then the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Trading Days after receipt of this Note and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Note (in accordance with Section 18(d) ) representing the outstanding Principal not converted. The Person or Persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon a conversion of this Note shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on the Conversion Date.  In the event of a partial conversion of this Note pursuant hereto, the Principal amount converted shall be deducted from the Installment Amount(s) relating to the Installment Date(s) as set forth in the applicable Conversion Notice.
 
(ii)   Company’s Failure to Timely Convert . If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue to the Holder within three (3) Trading Days after the Company’s receipt of a Conversion Notice (whether via facsimile or otherwise), a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or to credit the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion of any Conversion Amount (as the case may be) (a “ Conversion Failure ”) and if on or after such third (3 rd ) Trading Day the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion that the Holder anticipated receiving from the Company, then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall, within three (3) Trading Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions and other out-of-pocket expenses, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “ Buy-In Price ”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s conversion hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock multiplied by (B) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Conversion Date.
 
 
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(iii)   Registration; Book-Entry .  The Company shall maintain a register (the “ Register ”) for the recordation of the names and addresses of the holders of each Note and the principal amount of the Notes held by such holders (the “ Registered Notes ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes absent manifest error.  The Company and the holders of the Notes shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as the owner of a Note for all purposes, including, without limitation, the right to receive payments of Principal and Interest hereunder, notwithstanding notice to the contrary.  A Registered Note may be assigned or sold in whole or in part only by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register.  Upon its receipt of a request to assign or sell all or part of any Registered Note by a Holder, the Company shall record the information contained therein in the Register and issue one or more new Registered Notes in the same aggregate principal amount as the principal amount of the surrendered Registered Note to the designated assignee or transferee pursuant to Section 18 .   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, upon conversion of any portion of this Note in accordance with the terms hereof, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Note to the Company unless (A) the full Conversion Amount represented by this Note is being converted or (B) the Holder has provided the Company with prior written notice (which notice may be included in a Conversion Notice) requesting reissuance of this Note upon physical surrender of this Note.  The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the Principal, Interest and Late Charges, if any, converted and/or paid (as the case may be) the dates of such conversions and/or payments (as the case may be) or shall use such other method, reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and the Company, so as not to require physical surrender of this Note upon conversion
 
 
 
 
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(iv)   Pro Rata Conversion; Disputes . In the event that the Company receives a Conversion Notice from more than one holder of Notes for the same Conversion Date and the Company can convert some, but not all, of such portions of the Notes submitted for conversion, the Company, subject to Section 3(d) , shall convert from each holder of Notes electing to have Notes converted on such date a pro rata amount of such holder’s portion of its Notes submitted for conversion based on the principal amount of Notes submitted for conversion on such date by such holder relative to the aggregate principal amount of all Notes submitted for conversion on such date. In the event of a dispute as to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable to the Holder in connection with a conversion of this Note, the Company shall issue to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock not in dispute and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 23 .
 
(d)   Limitations on Exercises .
 
(i)   Beneficial Ownership . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Note, this Note shall not be convertible by the Holder hereof, and the Company shall not effect any conversion of this Note or otherwise issue any shares of Common Stock pursuant hereto, to the extent (but only to the extent) that after giving effect to such conversion or other share issuance hereunder the Holder (together with its affiliates and joint actors) would beneficially own in excess of  [4.99%][9.99%] 1 (the “ Maximum Percentage ”) of the Common Stock.  To the extent the above limitation applies, the determination of whether this Note shall be convertible (vis-à-vis other convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates) and of which such securities shall be convertible (as among all such securities owned by the Holder) shall, subject to such Maximum Percentage limitation, be made on the basis of the first submission to the Company for conversion, exercise or exchange (as the case may be).  For purposes of the first sentence of this paragraph, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates and joint actors shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) conversion of the remaining, unconverted portion of this Note beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates or joint actors and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates or joint actors (including, without limitation, the Warrants, any Other Notes, any other convertible notes or convertible preferred shares), which in each case is subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein.  For the purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership and all determinations and calculations (including, without limitation, with respect to calculations of percentage ownership) shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder except as set forth in the preceding sentence.  No prior inability to convert this Note pursuant to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this paragraph with respect to any subsequent determination of convertibility.  The provisions of this paragraph shall be implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this paragraph to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Maximum Percentage beneficial ownership limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such Maximum Percentage limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor Holder of this Note.  The holders of Common Stock shall be third party beneficiaries of this paragraph and the Company may not waive this paragraph without the consent of holders of a majority of its Common Stock.  For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding, including by virtue of any prior conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities into Common Stock, including, without limitation, pursuant to this Note or securities issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.  By written notice to the Company, any Holder may increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% or less than 4.99% as specified in such notice; provided that (i) any such increase will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company, and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to the Holder sending such notice and not to any other holder of Notes.
 

 
1 Insert percentage elected by such Buyer on or prior to the Closing Date
 
 
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(ii)   [Intentionally Omitted].
 
4.   RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT .
 
(a)   Event of Default .  Each of the following events shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:
 
(i)   at any time following the Eligibility Date, if (x) a Current Public Information Failure has occurred and (y) a Registration Statement (or the prospectus contained therein) is unavailable to any holder of Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) for sale of all of such holder’s Registrable Securities required to be registered on such Registration Statement in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement (i.e., subject to the provisions contained in the Registration Rights Agreement pertaining to Cut-Back Shares, as such term is defined therein, to the extent such Cut-Back Shares are not required to be registered on such Registration Statement), and such Current Public Information Failure, lapse or unavailability continues for a period of five (5) consecutive days or for more than an aggregate of ten (10) days in any 365-day period (excluding days during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement));
 
(ii)   the suspension from trading or the failure of the Common Stock to be trading or listed (as applicable) on an Eligible Market for a period of five (5) consecutive days;
 
 
 
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(iii)   the Company’s (A) failure to cure a Conversion Failure or a Delivery Failure (as defined in the Warrants) by delivery of the required number of shares of Common Stock within five (5) Trading Days after the applicable Conversion Date or exercise date (as the case may be) or (B) notice, written or oral, to any holder of the Notes or Warrants, including, without limitation, by way of public announcement or through any of its agents, at any time, of its intention not to comply, as required, with a request for conversion of any Notes into shares of Common Stock that is requested in accordance with the provisions of the Notes, other than pursuant to Section 3(d), or a request for exercise of any Warrants for Warrant Shares in accordance with the provisions of the Warrants;
 
(iv)   the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to pay to the Holder any amount of Principal, Interest, Late Charges or other amounts when and as due under this Note (including, without limitation, the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to pay any redemption payments or amounts hereunder) or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or any other agreement, document, certificate or other instrument delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except, in the case of a failure to pay Interest and Late Charges when and as due, in which case only if such failure remains uncured for a period of at least five (5) days;
 
(v)   the Company fails to remove any restrictive legend on any certificate or any shares of Common Stock issued to the Holder upon conversion or exercise (as the case may be) of any Securities acquired by the Holder under the Securities Purchase Agreement (including this Note) as and when required by such Securities or the Securities Purchase Agreement, unless otherwise then prohibited by applicable federal securities laws, and any such failure remains uncured for at least five (5) days;
 
(vi)   the occurrence of any default under, redemption of or acceleration prior to maturity of Indebtedness (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than (x) Indebtedness of New PE Holdco (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and (y) Indebtedness of the Company described in Item 2 of Schedule 3(s) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, in the aggregate, in excess of $300,000, provided that, to the extent a default under any Permitted Senior Indebtedness has been waived in writing by the holders of such Permitted Senior Indebtedness, such default shall not be deemed to be a default of such Permitted Senior Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 4(a)(vi) or Section 31(r) and such default shall only be deemed to be a default of such Indebtedness in the case of (A) a default (other than a payment default) or breach of a covenant or other term or condition that is curable, if such default or breach remains uncured for a period of fifteen (15) consecutive Trading Days and/or (B) a payment default, if such default remains uncured for a period of ten (10) consecutive Trading Days;
 
(vii)   the occurrence of any payment default under, redemption of or acceleration prior to maturity of (x) any Indebtedness of New PE Holdco and/or (y) Indebtedness of the Company described in Item 2 of Schedule 3(s) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, in the aggregate, in excess of $300,000, provided that, such payment default shall only be deemed to be a payment default of such Indebtedness of New PE Holdco for purposes of this Section 4(a)(vii) or Section 31(r) if such payment default remains uncured for a period of ten (10) consecutive Trading Days;
 
 
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(viii)   bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against the Company or any Subsidiary and, if instituted against the Company or any Subsidiary by a third party, shall not be dismissed within thirty (30) days of their initiation;
 
(ix)   the commencement by the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal, state or foreign law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the execution of a composition of debts, or the occurrence of any other similar federal, state or foreign proceeding, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action or the taking of any action by any Person to commence a UCC foreclosure sale or any other similar action under federal, state or foreign law;
 
(x)   the entry by a court of (i) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (ii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document adjudging the Company or any Subsidiary as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary under any applicable federal, state or foreign law or (iii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree, order, judgment or other similar document or any such other decree, order, judgment or other similar document unstayed and in effect for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;
 
 
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(xi)   a final judgment, judgments, any arbitration or mediation award or any settlement of any litigation or any other satisfaction of any claim made by any Person pursuant to any litigation, as applicable, (each a “ Judgment ”, and collectively, the “ Judgments ”) with respect to the payment of cash, securities and/or other assets with an aggregate fair value (as determined in accordance with Section 7(a)(iv) below) in excess of $300,000 are rendered against, agreed to or otherwise accepted by, the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation any claim against the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries by, or on behalf of, or related to, Delta-T Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns, whether pursuant to In re: Delta-T Corporation v. Pacific Ethanol, Inc. , Civil Action Number-3:08CV524 filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Richmond Division) (the “ Delta Case ”), any Judgment arising out of or relating to the Delta Case or any claims of any Person incurred in connection therewith or pursuant to the EPT Agreements (as defined in the Delta Case) or otherwise arising in connection therewith) and which Judgments are not, within thirty (30) days after the entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such stay; provided, however, any Judgment which is covered by insurance or an indemnity from a credit worthy party shall not be included in calculating the $300,000 amount set forth above so long as the Company provides the Holder a written statement from such insurer or indemnity provider (which written statement shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to the effect that such Judgment is covered by insurance or an indemnity and the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) will receive the proceeds of such insurance or indemnity within thirty (30) days of the issuance of such Judgment;
 
(xii)   the Company and/or any Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, either (i) fails to pay, when due, or within any applicable grace period, any payment with respect to any Indebtedness in excess of $150,000 due to any third party (other than, with respect to unsecured Indebtedness only, payments contested by the Company and/or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) in good faith by proper proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with GAAP) or is otherwise in breach or violation of any agreement for monies owed or owing in an amount in excess of $150,000, which breach or violation permits the other party thereto to declare a default or otherwise accelerate amounts due thereunder, or (ii) suffer to exist any other circumstance or event that would, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, result in a default or event of default under any agreement binding the Company or any Subsidiary, which default or event of default would or is likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, operations (including results thereof), liabilities, properties, condition (including financial condition) or prospects of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate;
 
(xiii)   other than as specifically set forth in another clause of this Section 4(a),   the Company or any Subsidiary breaches any representation, warranty, covenant or other term or condition of any Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), and, only, in the case of a breach of a covenant or other term or condition that is curable, if such breach remains uncured for a period of ten (10) consecutive Trading Days;
 
(xiv)   any breach or failure in any respect by the Company or any Subsidiary to comply with any provision of Section 11 or 14 of this Note;
 
 
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(xv)   any Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) occurs (other than with respect to any Excluded Events);
 
(xvi)   any provision of any Transaction Document (shall at any time for any reason (other than pursuant to the express terms thereof) cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the parties thereto, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by the Company or any Subsidiary or any governmental authority having jurisdiction over any of them, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof, or the Company or any Subsidiary shall deny in writing that it has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any Transaction Document;
 
(xvii)   the Company fails to acquire the Minimum New PE Holdco Share Amount (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) of the capital stock of New PE Holdco on or prior to three calendar days after the Closing Date; or
 
(xviii)   any Event of Default (as defined in the Other Notes) occurs with respect to any Other Notes.
 
Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this Note or any Other Note, the Company shall promptly deliver written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier (with next day delivery specified) (an “ Event of Default Notice ”) to the Holder.
 
(b)   Redemption Right . At any time after the earlier of the Holder’s receipt of an Event of Default Notice and the Holder becoming aware of an Event of Default (such earlier date, the “ Event of Default Right Commencement Date ”) and ending (such ending date, the “ Event of Default Right Expiration Date ”) on the tenth (10 th ) Trading Day after the later of (x) the date such Event of Default is cured and (y) the Holder’s receipt of an Event of Default Notice that includes (I) a reasonable description of the applicable Event of Default, (II) a certification as to whether, in the opinion of the Company, such Event of Default is capable of being cured and, if applicable, a reasonable description of any existing plans of the Company to cure such Event of Default and (III) a certification as to the date the Event of Default occurred and the applicable Event of Default Right Expiration Date, the Holder may elect to redeem all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (the “ Event of Default Redemption Notice ”) to the Company, which Event of Default Redemption Notice shall indicate the portion of this Note the Holder is electing to redeem. If the Company has received notices from holders of Notes electing to redeem at least 20% of the principal amount of the Notes then outstanding prior to the applicable Event of Default Expiration Date (the date of the Company’s receipt of such notice, the “ Event of Default Redemption Trigger Date ”), each portion of this Note subject to redemption by the Company pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be redeemed by the Company at a price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount to be redeemed multiplied by (B) the Redemption Premium and (ii) the product of (X) the Conversion Rate with respect to the Conversion Amount in effect at such time as the Holder delivers an Event of Default Redemption Notice multiplied by (Y) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the date immediately preceding such Event of Default and ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Trading Day during which the Company pays the Event of Default Redemption Price (as defined below) to the Holder (the “ Event of Default Redemption Price ”). Redemptions required by this Section 4(b) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 12. To the extent redemptions required by this Section 4(b) are deemed or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be prepayments of this Note by the Company, such redemptions shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4, but subject to Section 3(d), until the Event of Default Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) is paid in full, the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption under this Section 4(b) (together with any Late Charges thereon) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to Section 3. In the event of a partial redemption of this Note pursuant hereto, the Principal amount redeemed shall be deducted from the Installment Amount(s) relating to the applicable Installment Date(s) as set forth in the Event of Default Redemption Notice. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 4(b), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 4(b) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty.
 
 
 
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5.   RIGHTS UPON FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTION .
 
(a)   Assumption . The Company shall not consummate a Fundamental Transaction unless the Successor Entity assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(a) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders and approved by the Required Holders prior to such Fundamental Transaction, including agreements to deliver to each holder of Notes in exchange for such Notes a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to the Notes, including, without limitation, having a principal amount and interest rate equal to the principal amounts then outstanding and the interest rates of the Notes held by such holder, having similar conversion rights as the Notes and having similar ranking to the Notes, and reasonably satisfactory to the Holder. Upon the occurrence of any Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Note and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Note and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. Upon consummation of a Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall deliver to the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon conversion or redemption of this Note at any time after the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, in lieu of the shares of the Company’s Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Sections 6 and 15, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter) issuable upon the conversion or redemption of the Notes prior to such Fundamental Transaction) such shares of the publicly traded common stock (or their equivalent) of the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of such Fundamental Transaction had this Note been converted immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note, except to the extent prohibited by the rules and regulations of the Principal Market), as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Note. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Holder may elect, at its sole option, by delivery of written notice to the Company to waive this Section 5(a) to permit the Fundamental Transaction without the assumption of this Note.  The provisions of this Section 5 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the conversion of this Note.
 
 
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(b)   Redemption Right . No sooner than twenty (20) Trading Days nor later than ten (10) Trading Days prior to the consummation of a Change of Control, but not prior to the public announcement of such Change of Control, the Company shall deliver written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier to the Holder (a “ Change of Control Notice ”).  At any time and from time to time during the period commencing on the earlier to occur of (x) any oral or written agreement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which upon consummation of the transaction contemplated thereby would reasonably be expected to result in a Change of Control, (y) the Holder becoming aware of a Change of Control and (z) the Holder's receipt of a Change of Control Notice and ending on the later of twenty (20) Trading Days after (A) consummation of such Change of Control or (B) the date of receipt of such Change of Control Notice, the Holder may require the Company to redeem all or any portion of this Note by delivering written notice thereof (“ Change of Control Redemption Notice ”) to the Company, which Change of Control Redemption Notice shall indicate the Conversion Amount the Holder is electing to redeem.  The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 5 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price equal to the greater of (i) the product of (x) the Change of Control Redemption Premium multiplied by (y) the Conversion Amount being redeemed, (ii) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount being redeemed multiplied by (B) the quotient determined by dividing (I) the greatest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the date immediately preceding the earlier to occur of (1) the consummation of the Change of Control and (2) the public announcement of such Change of Control and ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the Trading Day during which the Company pays the Change of Control Redemption Price (as defined below) to the Holder by (II) the Conversion Price then in effect and (iii) the product of (A) the Conversion Amount being redeemed multiplied by (B) the quotient of (I) the aggregate cash consideration and the aggregate cash value of any non-cash consideration per share of Common Stock to be paid to the holders of the shares of Common Stock upon consummation of such Change of Control (any such non-cash consideration constituting publicly-traded securities shall be valued at the highest of the Closing Sale Price of such securities as of the Trading Day immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control, the Closing Sale Price of such securities on the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of such proposed Change of Control and the Closing Sale Price of such securities on the Trading Day immediately prior to the public announcement of such proposed Change of Control) divided by (II) the Conversion Price then in effect (the “ Change of Control Redemption Price ”). Redemptions required by this Section 5 shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 and shall have priority to payments to stockholders in connection with such Change of Control. To the extent redemptions required by this Section 5(b) are deemed or determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be prepayments of this Note by the Company, such redemptions shall be deemed to be voluntary prepayments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5, but subject to Section 3(d), until the Change of Control Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) is paid in full, the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption under this Section 5(b) (together with any Late Charges thereon) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to Section 3. In the event of a partial redemption of this Note pursuant hereto, the Principal amount redeemed shall be deducted from the Installment Amount(s) relating to the applicable Installment Date(s) as set forth in the Fundamental Transaction Redemption Notice. In the event of the Company’s redemption of any portion of this Note under this Section 5(b), the Holder’s damages would be uncertain and difficult to estimate because of the parties’ inability to predict future interest rates and the uncertainty of the availability of a suitable substitute investment opportunity for the Holder. Accordingly, any redemption premium due under this Section 5(b) is intended by the parties to be, and shall be deemed, a reasonable estimate of the Holder’s actual loss of its investment opportunity and not as a penalty.
 
 
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6.   RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF PURCHASE RIGHTS AND OTHER CORPORATE EVENTS .
 
(a)   Purchase Rights . In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 7 below, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of Common Stock (the “ Purchase Rights ”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete conversion of this Note (without taking into account any limitations or restrictions on the convertibility of this Note) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage).
 
 
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(b)   Other Corporate Events . In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock (a “ Corporate Event ”), the Company shall make appropriate provision to insure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon a conversion of this Note, in lieu of the shares of Common Stock otherwise receivable upon such conversion, such securities or other assets received by the holders of shares of Common Stock in connection with the consummation of such Corporate Event in such amounts as the Holder would have been entitled to receive had this Note initially been issued with conversion rights for the form of such consideration (as opposed to shares of Common Stock) at a conversion rate for such consideration commensurate with the Conversion Rate. Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Required Holders.  The provisions of this Section 6 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Corporate Events and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the conversion or redemption of this Note.
 
7.   RIGHTS UPON ISSUANCE OF OTHER SECURITIES .
 
(a)   Adjustment of Fixed Conversion Price upon Issuance of Common Stock .  If and whenever on or after the Subscription Date the Company issues or sells, or in accordance with this Section 7(a) is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company, but excluding any Excluded Securities issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold) for a consideration per share (the “ New Issuance Price ”) less than a price equal to the Fixed Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale or deemed issuance or sale (such Fixed Conversion Price then in effect is referred to herein as the “ Applicable Price ”) (the foregoing a “ Dilutive Issuance ”), then, immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Fixed Conversion Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the New Issuance Price. For purposes of determining the adjusted Fixed Conversion Price under this Section 7(a), the following shall be applicable:
 
(i)   Issuance of Options .  If the Company in any manner grants or sells any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the granting or sale of such Option for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 7(a)(i), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option” shall be equal to the lower of (x) the exercise price set forth in such Option for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option and (y) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option. Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Fixed Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of any such Option or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.  For clarification purposes and without limiting the foregoing, in calculating the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option” paid or payable to the Company pursuant to this Section 7(a)(i), any amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Option (or any other Person) upon such conversion, exercise or exchange of such Option shall reduce the value of the consideration paid or payable to the Company in such conversion, exercise or exchange and/or, as the case may be, the value of any other consideration or benefit conferred.
 
 
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(ii)   Issuance of Convertible Securities .  If the Company in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities for such price per share.  For the purposes of this Section 7(a)(ii), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof” shall be equal to the lower of (x) the conversion price set forth in such Convertible Security for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof and (y) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security. Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Fixed Conversion Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and if any such issue or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of the Fixed Conversion Price has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 7(a), except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Fixed Conversion Price shall be made by reason of such issue or sale.  For clarification purposes and without limiting the foregoing, in calculating the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof” paid or payable to the Company pursuant to this Section 7(a)(ii), any amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person) upon conversion or exercise (as applicable) of such Convertible Security shall reduce the value of the consideration paid or payable to the Company in such conversion, exercise or exchange and/or, as the case may be, the value of any other consideration or benefit conferred.
 
 
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(iii)   Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion . If the purchase or exercise price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time, the Fixed Conversion Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Fixed Conversion Price which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 7(a)(iii), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Subscription Date are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(a) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Fixed Conversion Price then in effect.
 
(iv)   Calculation of Consideration Received . If any Option or Convertible Security or Adjustment Right is issued in connection with the issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of any other securities of the Company, together comprising one integrated transaction, (x) such Option or Convertible Security (as applicable) or Adjustment Right (as applicable) will be deemed to have been issued for consideration equal to the Black Scholes Consideration Value thereof and (y) the other securities issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold in such integrated transaction shall be deemed to have been issued for consideration equal to the difference of (I) the aggregate consideration received or receivable by the Company minus (II) the Black Scholes Consideration Value of each such Option or Convertible Security (as applicable) or Adjustment Right (as applicable).  If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor will be deemed to be the net amount of consideration received by the Company therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Company will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company for such securities will be the arithmetic average of the VWAPs of such security for each of the five (5) Trading Days immediately preceding the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be. The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Company and the Holder. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation  (the “ Valuation Event ”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10 th ) day following such Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Company and the Holder. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Company.
 
 
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(v)   Record Date . If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase (as the case may be).
 
(b)   Adjustment of Fixed Conversion Price upon Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock .  If the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, the Fixed Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced. If the Company at any time on or after the Subscription Date combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more classes of its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Fixed Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased. Any adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(b) shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination. If any event requiring an adjustment under this Section 7(b) occurs during the period that a Fixed Conversion Price is calculated hereunder, then the calculation of such Fixed Conversion Price shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect such event.
 
(c)   Holder's Right of Alternative Fixed Conversion Price Following Issuance of Certain Options or Convertible Securities .  Subject to Section 4(n) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, in addition to and not in limitation of the other provisions of this Section 7, if the Company in any manner issues or sells any Options or Convertible Securities (any such securities, " Variable Price Securities ") after the Subscription Date that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the shares of Common Stock, including by way of one or more reset(s) to a fixed price, but exclusive of such formulations reflecting customary anti-dilution provisions (such as share splits, share combinations, share dividends and similar transactions) (each of the formulations for such variable price being herein referred to as, the " Variable Price "), the Company shall provide written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier to the Holder on the date of issuance of such Convertible Securities or Options.  Subject to Section 4(n) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, from and after the date the Company issues any such Convertible Securities or Options with a Variable Price, the Holder shall have the right, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion to substitute the Variable Price for the Fixed Conversion Price upon conversion of this Note by designating in the Conversion Notice delivered upon any conversion of this Note that solely for purposes of such conversion the Holder is relying on the Variable Price rather than the Fixed Conversion Price then in effect.  The Holder's election to rely on a Variable Price for a particular conversion of this Note shall not obligate the Holder to rely on a Variable Price for any future conversion of this Note.
 
 
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(d)   Other Events . In the event that the Company (or any direct or indirect Subsidiary thereof) shall take any action to which the provisions hereof are not strictly applicable, or, if applicable, would not operate to protect the Holder from dilution or if any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 7 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company’s board of directors shall in good faith determine and implement an appropriate adjustment in the Fixed Conversion Price so as to protect the rights of the Holder, provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(b) will increase the Fixed Conversion Price as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 7, provided further that if the Holder does not accept such adjustments as appropriately protecting its interests hereunder against such dilution, then the Company’s board of directors and the Holder shall agree, in good faith, upon an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing to make such appropriate adjustments, whose determination shall be final and binding and whose fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company.
 
8.   COMPANY INSTALLMENT CONVERSION OR REDEMPTION .
 
(a)   General . On each applicable Installment Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder of this Note the applicable Installment Amount due on such date by converting such Installment Amount in accordance with this Section 8 (a “ Company Conversion ”); provided, however, the Company may, at its option as described below, pay all or any part of such Installment Amount by redeeming such Installment Amount in cash (a “ Company Redemption ”) or by any combination of a Company Conversion and a Company Redemption so long as the entire amount of such Installment Amount due shall be converted and/or redeemed by the Company on the applicable Installment Date, subject to the provisions of this Section 8, provided further that the Company shall not be entitled to elect a Company Conversion with respect to any portion of such Installment Amount and shall be required to elect and to pay the entire amount of such Installment Amount in cash pursuant to a Company Redemption if on the applicable Installment Notice Due Date or on the applicable Installment Date (as the case may be) there is an Equity Conditions Failure ; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, a Company Conversion may still occur on the applicable Installment Date in accordance with Section 8(c) with the written consent of the Holder, provided further that, notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) the Company has elected to effect a Company Conversion pursuant to this Section 8 with respect to the applicable Installment Date, (ii) the Company is permitted pursuant to this Section 8 to effect such Company Conversion on such Installment Date and (iii) prior to such Installment Date the Holder has delivered (via facsimile or otherwise) to the Company a written notice (a “ Blocker Notice ”) (A) stating that such Company Conversion would result in a violation of Section 3(d) and (B) specifying the portion of the applicable Installment Amount with respect to which such Company Conversion would result in a violation of Section 3(d) if such Company Conversion were effected (such amount so specified is referred to herein as the “ Designated Specified Amount ”), the Installment Amount of the Holder for such Installment Date shall be automatically reduced by such Designated Specified Amount and (x) at the Holder’s option, at any time prior to the applicable Installment Date, (A) the Holder may reduce the Designated Specified Amount of shares of Common Stock covered by such Blocker Notice, in whole or in part, by delivery of one or more (but no more than four in any thirty calendar day period) written notices to the Company (each, a “ Withdrawal Notice ”, and each date, “ Withdrawal Notice Date ”) and elect to convert the Designated Specified Amount (or such lesser amount as set forth in such Withdrawal Notice) in accordance with this Section 8 (each, a “ Withdrawn Designated Specified Amount ”), (B) the Company shall convert each Withdrawn Designated Specified Amount into such number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (I) the applicable Withdrawn Designated Specified Amount divided by (II) the Closing Bid Price on the Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Withdrawal Notice Date, and deliver such shares of Common Stock to the Holder’s account with DTC no later than the second (2 nd ) Trading Day after the applicable Withdrawal Notice Date, and (C) the Installment Amount with respect to such Installment Date shall be automatically increased by an amount equal to the sum of any Withdrawn Designated Specified Amounts set forth in Withdrawal Notices of the Holder with respect to such Installment Date delivered to the Company prior to such Installment Date and (y) the Installment Amount of the immediately subsequent Installment Date (if any) shall be automatically increased by the Designated Specified Amount (less an amount equal to the sum of any Withdrawn Designated Specified Amounts set forth in Withdrawal Notices of the Holder delivered with respect to such Installment Date).
 
 
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(b)   Mechanics of Company Installment Payments .  On or prior to the date which is the twenty-first (21 st ) Trading Day prior to each Installment Date (each, an “ Installment Notice Due Date ”), the Company shall deliver written notice (each, a “ Company Installment Notice ” and the date all of the holders receive such notice is referred to as to the “ Company Installment Notice Date ”), to each holder of Notes and such Company Installment Notice shall (i) either (A) confirm that the applicable Installment Amount of such holder’s Note shall be converted, in whole or in part, pursuant to a Company Conversion or (B) specify the portion of the applicable Installment Amount which the Company elects, or is required to elect and redeem, pursuant to a Company Redemption (“ Company Redemption Amount ”) and the portion of the applicable Installment Amount, if any, that the Company elects, and is permitted, to convert pursuant to a Company Conversion (“ Company Conversion Amount ”), which amounts when added together, must equal the entire applicable Installment Amount and (ii) if the applicable Installment Amount is to be paid, in whole or in part, pursuant to a Company Conversion, certify that there is not then an Equity Conditions Failure as of the date of the Company Installment Notice.  Each Company Installment Notice shall be irrevocable. If the Company does not timely deliver a Company Installment Notice in accordance with this Section 8, then the Company shall be deemed to have delivered an irrevocable Company Installment Notice as of the applicable Installment Notice Due Date confirming a Company Conversion and shall be deemed to have certified as of the applicable Installment Notice Due Date that there is not then an Equity Conditions Failure in connection with such Company Conversion.
 
 
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(c)   Mechanics of Company Conversion . Except as expressly provided in this Section 8(c), no later than two (2) Trading Days after delivery (or deemed delivery, as applicable) of the applicable Company Installment Notice setting forth a Company Conversion Amount, the Company shall deliver to the Holder’s account with DTC such number of shares of Common Stock (the “ Pre-Installment Conversion Shares ”) equal to the quotient of (x) such Company Conversion Amount divided by (y) the Pre-Installment Period Conversion Price, and as to which the Holder shall be the owner thereof as of such time of delivery or deemed delivery (as the case may be) of such Company Installment Notice. Except as expressly provided in this Section 8(c), the Company shall convert and/or redeem the corresponding Installment Amounts (as defined in the Other Notes) of the Other Notes in the same ratio of the applicable Installment Amount being converted and/or redeemed hereunder. The applicable Company Conversion Amount (whether set forth in the applicable Company Installment Notice or by operation of this Section 8) shall be converted in accordance with Section 8(c) and the applicable Company Redemption Amount shall be redeemed in accordance with Section 8(d).  Subject to Section 3(d), if the Company delivers a Company Installment Notice and elects, or is deemed to have delivered a Company Installment Notice and deemed to have elected, in whole or in part, a Company Conversion in accordance with Section 8(b), then the remainder of this Section 8(c) shall apply.  On each Installment Date, any outstanding Company Conversion Amount shall be converted as of such Installment Date at the Company Conversion Price and the Company shall, on the applicable Installment Date, deliver to the Holder’s account with DTC such shares of Common Stock issued upon such conversion (subject to the reduction contemplated by the immediately following sentence and, if applicable, the last sentence of this Section 8(c)), provided that the Equity Conditions are then satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder) on such Installment Date and a Company Conversion is not otherwise prohibited under any other provision of this Note. The number of shares of Common Stock to be delivered upon such Company Conversion shall be reduced by the number of any Pre-Installment Conversion Shares previously delivered in connection with such Installment Date. If an Event of Default occurs during the period beginning on the applicable Company Installment Notice Date and ending on the applicable Installment Date, then either (i) the Holder shall return any Pre-Installment Conversion Shares delivered in connection with the applicable Installment Date or (ii) the Conversion Amount used to calculate the Event of Default Redemption Price shall be reduced by the product of (x) the Company Conversion Amount applicable to such Installment Date multiplied by (y) the Conversion Share Ratio (as defined below). If any of the Equity Conditions are not satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder) on such Installment Date or a Company Conversion is not otherwise permitted under any other provision of this Note, then, at the option of the Holder designated in writing to the Company, the Holder may require the Company to do any one or more of the following: (i) the Company shall redeem in cash, as designated by the Holder, all or any part of the Company Conversion Amount (together with any Designated Specified Amount specified in a Blocker Notice delivered with respect to any Company Conversion for such Installment Date) (such designated amount (together with such Designated Specified Amount, if any) is referred to as the
 
 
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 “ Designated Redemption Amount ”) and the Company shall pay to the Holder within three (3) days of such Installment Date, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount in cash equal to 125% (or in the event of any false or inaccurate certification (including a false or inaccurate deemed certification) by the Company that the Equity Conditions are satisfied or that there has been no Equity Conditions Failure with respect to such Installment Date, 150%) of such Designated Redemption Amount, and/or (ii) cause the Company Conversion to be null and void with respect to such Designated Redemption Amount; provided, however, the Conversion Price for such Designated Redemption Amount shall thereafter be adjusted to equal the lesser of (A) the Company Conversion Price as in effect on the date on which the Holder voided the Company Conversion and (B) the Company Conversion Price that would be in effect on the date on which the Holder delivers a Conversion Notice relating thereto as if such date was an Installment Date.  The Holder shall be entitled to all the rights of a holder of this Note with respect to such Designated Redemption Amount.  In addition, if any of the Equity Conditions are not satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder) on such Installment Date or a Company Conversion is not otherwise permitted under any other provision of this Note, then, at the Holder’s option, either (I) the Holder shall return any Pre-Installment Conversion Shares delivered in connection with the applicable Installment Date or (II) the applicable Designated Redemption Amount shall be reduced by the product of (X) the Company Conversion Amount applicable to such Installment Date multiplied by (Y) the Conversion Share Ratio. If the Company fails to redeem any Designated Redemption Amount by the third (3 rd ) day following the applicable Installment Date by payment of such amount on the applicable Installment Date, then the Holder shall have the rights set forth in Section 12(a) as if the Company failed to pay the applicable Company Installment Redemption Price (as defined below) and all other rights under this Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8(c), but subject to Section 3(d), until the Company delivers Common Stock representing the Company Conversion Amount to the Holder, the Company Conversion Amount may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to Section 3, in which event the Company Conversion Amount so converted shall be deducted from the Installment Amount(s) relating to the applicable Installment Date(s) as set forth in the applicable Conversion Notice.  If, with respect to an Installment Date, the number of Pre-Installment Conversion Shares delivered to the Holder exceeds the number of Post-Installment Conversion Shares, then the excess Pre-Installment Conversion Shares shall constitute a credit against the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to such Holder pursuant to Sections 3 and 8(b) hereof and shall reduce the number of shares of Common Stock required to be actually issued by the Company to the Holder under such sections on a share-for-share basis until such time as the number of shares that would have been issued by the Company to such Holder (not taking account of such credit) equals the amount of such excess.  For the avoidance of doubt, the delivery by the Company of the Pre-Installment Shares to the Holder shall not be deemed to reduce the outstanding Principal amount of this Note except in accordance with the terms of this Note at such times as provided in this Note.  The Company shall pay any and all taxes that may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of any shares of Common Stock in any Company Conversion hereunder.
 
 
 
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(d)   Mechanics of Company Redemption . If the Company elects, or is required to elect, a Company Redemption, in whole or in part, in accordance with Section 8(b), then the Company Redemption Amount, if any, which is to be paid to the Holder on the applicable Installment Date shall be redeemed by the Company on such Installment Date, and the Company shall pay to the Holder on such Installment Date, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in an amount in cash (the “ Company Installment Redemption Price ”) equal to the applicable Company Redemption Amount. If the Company fails to redeem the applicable Company Redemption Amount on the applicable Installment Date, then, at the option of the Holder designated in writing to the Company (any such designation shall be a “Conversion Notice” for purposes of this Note), the Holder may require the Company to convert all or any part of the Company Redemption Amount at the Company Conversion Price (determined as of the date of such designation). Conversions required by this Section 8(d) shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(c).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8(d), but subject to Section 3(d), until the Company Installment Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) is paid in full, the Company Redemption Amount (together with any Late Charges thereon) may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holder into Common Stock pursuant to Section 3. In the event the Holder elects to convert all or any portion of the Company Redemption Amount prior to the applicable Installment Date as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the portion of the Company Redemption Amount so converted shall be deducted from the Installment Amounts relating to the applicable Installment Date(s) as set forth in the applicable Conversion Notice.
 
(e)   Equity Conditions Waivers .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder may, at any time prior to the third (3rd) Trading Day after any applicable Installment Date, deliver a written notice to the Company (a “ Waiver Notice ”) electing to (x) waive the Equity Conditions with respect to all or any part of any Company Conversion Amount and/or Withdrawn Designated Specified Amount with respect to such Installment Date (such aggregate amount, a “ Waiver Company Conversion Amount ”) and/or (y) cause all or any part of the applicable Installment Amount as set forth in the Waiver Notice (the “ Waiver Company Deferral Amount ”) to be deferred and cause the Installment Amount of the immediately subsequent Installment Date (if any) to be automatically increased by such Waiver Company Deferral Amount (less an amount equal to the sum of any Waiver Company Conversion Amounts set forth in Waivers Notices of the Holder delivered with respect to such Installment Date).  Unless otherwise specified in the Waiver Notice, the Waiver Notice shall only apply to the specific Equity Conditions that the Company has detailed in a notice to the Holder delivered pursuant to this Section 8 with respect to such Installment Date.  Upon the Company’s receipt of a Waiver Notice, (i) the Company shall convert the Waiver Company Conversion Amount specified in such Waiver Notice, if any, into such number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (I) such Waiver Company Conversion Amount divided by (II) the lesser of (x) the lower of either (1) if such Waiver Notice Date occurs prior to the applicable Installment Date, the Pre-Installment Period Conversion Price applicable to such Installment Date or (2) if such Waiver Notice Date occurs on or after the applicable Installment Date, the Company Conversion Price applicable to such Installment Date and (y) the Closing Bid Price on the Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Waiver Notice Date, and deliver such shares of Common Stock to the Holder’s account with DTC (or if such shares of Common Stock are required to bear a restricted legend, by delivering such certificate with respect to such shares of Common Stock to the Holder), no later than the second (2 nd ) Trading Day after the applicable Waiver Notice Date (except as otherwise provided in this Section 8(e) below), and (ii) the Installment Amount with respect to such Installment Date shall be automatically increased by an amount equal to the sum of any Waiver Company Conversion Amounts set forth in such Waiver Notices of the Holder with respect to such Installment Date delivered to the Company on or prior to such Installment Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company has wired a cash payment applicable to such Waiver Company Conversion Amount (a “ Waiver Company Conversion Payment ”) to the Holder prior to the receipt of such Waiver Notice, the Company shall not be required to deliver any shares of Common Stock to the Holder with respect to such Waiver Company Conversion Amount until the second (2nd) Trading Day after the Company’s receipt of such Waiver Company Conversion Payment.
 
 
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9.   Company Optional Redemption .  If at any time after the thirtieth calendar day immediately following the initial Effective Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) (the “ Company Redemption Eligibility Date ”), (i) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Shares listed on the Principal Market exceeds 200% of the Fixed Conversion Price as of the Issuance Date (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations or other similar transactions) for fifteen (15) consecutive Trading Days (the “ Company Optional Redemption Measuring Period ”), and (ii) no Equity Conditions Failure exists, the Company shall have the right to redeem all, but not less than all (except in accordance with a Company Optional Redemption Blocker Notice (as defined below)), of the Conversion Amount then remaining under this Note (the “ Company Optional Redemption Amount ”) on the Company Optional Redemption Date (each as defined below) (a “ Company Optional Redemption ”); provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company Optional Redemption Amount for such Company Optional Redemption exceeds such portion of the Conversion Amount remaining under this Note that the Holder would be permitted to convert into Common Stock pursuant to Section 3 on the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date (as defined below) without violating Section 3(d) (the “ Permitted Company Optional Redemption Amount ”), the Holder, at its sole option, may deliver a written notice to the Company (a “ Company Optional Redemption Blocker Notice ”) stating that such Company Optional Redemption Amount set forth in the applicable Company Optional Redemption Notice (as defined below) exceeds the Permitted Company Optional Redemption Amount and, thereafter, the applicable Company Optional Redemption Amount shall be automatically reduced to the Permitted Company Optional Redemption Amount set forth in the applicable Company Optional Redemption Blocker Notice.  The portion of this Note subject to redemption pursuant to this Section 9 shall be redeemed by the Company in cash at a price (the “ Company Optional Redemption Price ”) equal to the Conversion Amount being redeemed.  The Company may exercise its right to require redemption under this Section 9 by delivering an irrevocable written notice thereof by facsimile and overnight courier to all, but not less than all, of the holders of Notes (the “ Company Optional Redemption Notice ” and the date all of the holders of Notes received such notice is referred to as the “ Company Optional Redemption Notice Date ”).  The Company may deliver only one Company Optional Redemption Notice during any thirty day period hereunder.  The Company Optional Redemption Notice shall (x) state the date on which the Company Optional Redemption shall occur (the “ Company Optional Redemption Date ”) which date shall not be less than ten (10) Trading Days nor more than thirty (30) Trading Days following the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date, (y) certify that there has been no Equity Conditions Failure, and (z) state the aggregate Conversion Amount of the Notes which is being redeemed in such Company Optional Redemption from the Holder and all of the other holders of the Notes pursuant to this Section 9 (and analogous provisions under the Other Notes) on the Company Optional Redemption Date.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if an Equity Conditions Failure occurs at any time prior to the Company Optional Redemption Date, (A) the Company shall provide the Holder a subsequent notice to that effect and (B) unless the Holder waives the applicable Equity Conditions Failure, the Company Optional Redemption shall be cancelled and the applicable Company Optional Redemption Notice shall be null and void and (ii) at any time prior to the date the Company Optional Redemption Price is paid, in full, the Company Optional Redemption Amount may be converted, in whole or in part, by the Holders into Common Shares pursuant to Section 3.  All Conversion Amounts converted by the Holder after the Company Optional Redemption Notice Date shall reduce the Company Optional Redemption Amount of this Note required to be redeemed on the Company Optional Redemption Date.  Redemptions made pursuant to this Section 9 shall be made in accordance with Section 12.
 
 
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10.   NONCIRCUMVENTION . The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), Bylaws (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Note, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Note and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder of this Note. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon conversion of this Note above the Conversion Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of this Note, and (iii) shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, take all action reasonably necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Notes, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the conversion of the Notes then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on conversion).
 
11.   RESERVATION OF AUTHORIZED SHARES .
 
(a)   Reservation . The Company shall initially reserve out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock a number of shares of Common Stock for each of the Notes equal to 150% of the entire Conversion Rate (calculated based on the Fixed Conversion Price calculated as of the Closing Date) with respect to the entire Conversion Amount (without regard to any limitations on conversions) of each such Note as of the Issuance   Date (the “ Initial Reserve Amount ”).  So long as any of the Notes are outstanding, the Company shall take all action reasonably necessary (including, without limitation, increasing the authorized number of shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with Section 11(b) below) to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Notes, at least 125% of the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be reasonably necessary to effect the conversion of all of the Notes then outstanding (the “ Required Reserve Amount ”).  The Initial Reserve Amount and each increase in the number of shares so reserved shall be allocated pro rata among the holders of the Notes based on the original principal amount of the Notes held by each holder on the Closing Date (the “ Authorized Share Allocation ”). In the event that a holder shall sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder’s Notes, each transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of such holder’s Authorized Share Allocation. Any shares of Common Stock reserved and allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Notes shall be allocated to the remaining holders of Notes, pro rata based on the principal amount of the Notes then held by such holders.
 
 
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(b)   Insufficient Authorized Shares . If, notwithstanding Section 11(a), and not in limitation thereof, at any time while any of the Notes remain outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and otherwise unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon conversion of the Notes at least a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Required Reserve Amount (an “ Authorized Share Failure ”), then the Company shall immediately take all action reasonably necessary to increase the Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for the Notes then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock.  In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit its stockholders’ approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal.
 
12.   REDEMPTIONS .
 
(a)   Mechanics . The Company shall deliver the applicable Event of Default Redemption Price to the Holder in cash within five (5) Business Days after the later of (x) the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s Event of Default Redemption Notice and (y) applicable Event of Default Redemption Trigger Date. If the Holder has submitted a Change of Control Redemption Notice in accordance with Section 5(b), the Company shall deliver the applicable Change of Control Redemption Price to the Holder in cash concurrently with the consummation of such Change of Control if such notice is received prior to the consummation of such Change of Control and within five (5) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of such notice otherwise.  The Company shall deliver the applicable Company Installment Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Installment Date.  The Company shall deliver the applicable Company Optional Redemption Price to the Holder in cash on the applicable Company Optional Redemption Date.  In the event of a redemption of less than all of the Conversion Amount of this Note, the Company shall promptly cause to be issued and delivered to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 18(d)) representing the outstanding Principal which has not been redeemed. In the event that the Company does not pay the applicable Redemption Price to the Holder within the time period required, at any time thereafter and until the Company pays such unpaid Redemption Price in full, the Holder shall have the option, in lieu of redemption, to require the Company to promptly return to the Holder all or any portion of this Note representing the Conversion Amount that was submitted for redemption and for which the applicable Redemption Price (together with any Late Charges thereon) has not been paid. Upon the Company’s receipt of such notice, (x) the applicable Redemption Notice shall be null and void with respect to such Conversion Amount and (y) the Company shall immediately return this Note, or issue a new Note (in accordance with Section 18(d)), to the Holder, and in each case the principal amount of this Note or such new Note (as the case may be) shall be increased by an amount equal to the difference between (1) the applicable Event of Default Redemption Price, Change of Control Redemption Price, Company Installment Redemption Price (as the case may be) minus (2) the Conversion Amount submitted for redemption. The Holder’s delivery of a notice voiding a Redemption Notice and exercise of its rights following such notice shall not affect the Company’s obligations to make any payments of Late Charges which have accrued prior to the date of such notice with respect to the Conversion Amount subject to such notice.
 
 
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(b)   Redemption by Other Holders . Upon the Company’s receipt of notice from any of the holders of the Other Notes that an event or occurrence substantially similar to the events or occurrences described in Section 4(b) or Section 5(b) has occurred, the Company shall immediately, but no later than one (1) Business Day of its receipt thereof, forward to the Holder by facsimile a copy of such notice (whether or not the Company agrees that such event or occurrence has occurred and/or is continuing).  Upon the Company’s receipt of notice from any of the holders of the Other Notes for redemption or repayment as a result of an event or occurrence substantially similar to the events or occurrences described in Section 4(b) or Section 5(b) (each, an “ Other Redemption Notice ”), the Company shall immediately, but no later than one (1) Business Day of its receipt thereof, forward to the Holder by facsimile a copy of such notice (whether or not the Company agrees that such event or occurrence has occurred and/or is continuing). If the Company receives a Redemption Notice and one or more Other Redemption Notices, during the seven (7) Business Day period beginning on and including the date which is three (3) Business Days prior to the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s applicable Redemption Notice and ending on and including the date which is three (3) Business Days after the Company’s receipt of the Holder’s applicable Redemption Notice and the Company is unable to redeem all principal, interest and other amounts designated in such Redemption Notice and such Other Redemption Notices received during such seven (7) Business Day period, then the Company shall redeem a pro rata amount from each holder of the Notes (including the Holder) based on the principal amount of the Notes submitted for redemption pursuant to such Redemption Notice and such Other Redemption Notices received by the Company during such seven (7) Business Day period.
 
13.   VOTING RIGHTS . The Holder shall have no voting rights as the holder of this Note, except as required by law, including but not limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law, and as expressly provided in this Note.
 
 
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14.   COVENANTS . Until all of the Notes have been converted, redeemed or otherwise satisfied in accordance with their terms:
 
(a)   Rank . All payments due under this Note (a) shall rank pari passu with all Other Notes and (b) shall be senior to all other Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries other than Permitted Senior Indebtedness and Permitted Subsidiary Indebtedness.
 
(b)   Incurrence of Indebtedness . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, incur or guarantee, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness (other than (i) the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Other Notes and (ii) Permitted Indebtedness).
 
(c)   Existence of Liens . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, allow or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “ Liens ”) other than Permitted Liens.
 
(d)   Restricted Payments . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, defease, repurchase, repay or make any payments in respect of, by the payment of cash or cash equivalents (in whole or in part, whether by way of open market purchases, tender offers, private transactions or otherwise), all or any portion of any Indebtedness (other than Permitted Senior Indebtedness and Permitted Subsidiary Indebtedness), whether by way of payment in respect of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, such Indebtedness if at the time such payment is due or is otherwise made or, after giving effect to such payment, (i) an event constituting an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) an event that with the passage of time and without being cured would constitute an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
 
(e)   Restriction on Redemption and Cash Dividends . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, repurchase or pay any cash dividend or distribution on any of its capital stock (other than dividends by wholly-owned subsidiaries to the Company) without the prior express written consent of the Holder other than a cash distribution to be made by Pacific Ethanol California, Inc., a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, to the Company upon the closing of the sale by Pacific Ethanol California, Inc. of its ownership interest in Front Range Energy, LLC.
 
 
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(f)   Restriction on Transfer of Assets . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of any assets or rights of the Company or any Subsidiary owned or hereafter acquired whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, other than (i) sales, leases, licenses, assignments, transfers, conveyances and other dispositions of such assets or rights by the Company and its Subsidiaries that, in the aggregate, do not have a fair market value in excess of $250,000 in any twelve (12) month period, (ii) the transfer, sale or assignment of the assets of Pacific Ag. Products, LLC in connection with the renewal, extension or replacement of Kinergy Marketing, LLC’s credit facility with Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation (Western) and (iii) sales of inventory or receivables in the ordinary course of business.
 
(g)   Maturity of Indebtedness . Except for a prepayment, if any, of (i) the Company’s outstanding obligation to Campbell-Sevey, Inc. in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1.5 million and (ii) the Indebtedness described in Schedule 4(d) to the Securities Purchase Agreement, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1.0 million, the Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, permit any Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to mature or accelerate prior to the Maturity Date, other than Permitted Senior Indebtedness.
 
(h)   Change in Nature of Business . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries on the Issuance Date or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.  The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, modify its or their corporate structure or purpose.
 
(i)   Preservation of Existence, Etc.   The Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, its existence, rights and privileges, and become or remain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to become or remain, duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary.
 
(j)   Maintenance of Properties, Etc.   The Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, at all times with the provisions of all leases to which it is a party as lessee or under which it occupies property, so as to prevent any loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder.
 
(k)   Maintenance of Insurance .  The Company shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability, hazard, rent and business interruption insurance) with respect to its properties (including all real properties leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is required by any governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated.
 
 
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(l)   Delta Securities .  The Company shall not issue any Delta Securities (as defined in Section 31(u) below) without the prior written consent of the Required Holders.
 
15.   PARTICIPATION . In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 7, the Holder, as the holder of this Note, shall be entitled to receive such dividends paid and distributions made to the holders of Common Stock to the same extent as if the Holder had converted this Note into Common Stock (without regard to any limitations on conversion herein or elsewhere) and had held such shares of Common Stock on the record date for such dividends and distributions. Payments under the preceding sentence shall be made concurrently with the dividend or distribution to the holders of Common Stock (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such dividend or distribution would result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution to such extent (or the beneficial ownership of any such shares of Common Stock as a result of such dividend or distribution to such extent) and such dividend or distribution to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage).
 
16.   AMENDING THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE .  No provision of this Note may be modified or amended without the prior written consent of the Required Holders and the Company; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment shall, without the consent of the Holder hereunder, change the stated maturity date of this Note, or reduce the principal amount hereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of any interest hereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption or prepayment hereof, or impair or affect the right of the Holder to receive payment of principal (whether in cash or Common Shares) of, and interest on, the Notes or to institute suit for payment thereof, or impair or affect the right of the Holder to receive any other payment (whether in cash or Common Shares) provided for under this Note, or modify or amend the definition of “Equity Conditions.”
 
17.   TRANSFER . This Note and any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of this Note may be offered, sold, assigned or transferred by the Holder without the consent of the Company, subject only to the provisions of Section 2(g) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
 
18.   REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE .
 
(a)   Transfer . If this Note is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Note to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 18(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the outstanding Principal being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the entire outstanding Principal is being transferred, a new Note (in accordance with Section 18(d)) to the Holder representing the outstanding Principal not being transferred. The Holder and any assignee, by acceptance of this Note, acknowledge and agree that, by reason of the provisions of Section 3(c)(iii) following conversion or redemption of any portion of this Note, the outstanding Principal represented by this Note may be less than the Principal stated on the face of this Note.
 
 
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(b)   Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note . Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 18(d)) representing the outstanding Principal.
 
(c)   Note Exchangeable for Different Denominations . This Note is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Note or Notes (in accordance with Section 18(d) and in principal amounts of at least $10,000) representing in the aggregate the outstanding Principal of this Note, and each such new Note will represent such portion of such outstanding Principal as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.
 
(d)   Issuance of New Notes . Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note, such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding (or in the case of a new Note being issued pursuant to Section 18(a) or Section 18(c), the Principal designated by the Holder which, when added to the principal represented by the other new Notes issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the Principal remaining outstanding under this Note immediately prior to such issuance of new Notes), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date of this Note, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and (v) shall represent accrued and unpaid Interest and Late Charges on the Principal and Interest of this Note, from the Issuance Date.
 
19.   REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF . The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note and any of the other Transaction Documents at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Note.  The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 7).
 
 
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20.   PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS .  If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting Company creditors’ rights and involving a claim under this Note, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that no amounts due under this Note shall be affected, or limited, by the fact that the Purchase Price paid for this Note was less than the original Principal amount hereof.
 
21.   CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS .  This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note. Terms used in this Note but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.
 
22.   FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER . No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.
 
23.   DISPUTE RESOLUTION . In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Conversion Price, the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price or fair market value (as the case may be) or the arithmetic calculation of the Conversion Rate or the applicable Redemption Price (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (i) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (ii) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute (including, without limitation, as to whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities). If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation within two (2) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation (as the case may be) being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days, submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Conversion Price, the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price or fair market value (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Conversion Rate or any Redemption Price (as the case may be) to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.
 
 
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24.   NOTICES; CURRENCY; PAYMENTS.
 
(a)   Notices . Whenever notice is required to be given under this Note, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 9(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Note, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefore. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) promptly upon any adjustment of the Conversion Price, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grant, issuances, or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.
 
(b)   Currency .  All principal, interest and other amounts owing under this Note or any Transaction Document that, in accordance with their terms, are paid in cash shall be paid in U.S. dollars.   All amounts denominated in other currencies shall be converted to the U.S. dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. “ Exchange Rate ” means, in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into U.S. dollars pursuant to this Note, the U.S. dollar exchange rate as published in the Wall Street Journal on the relevant date of calculation (it being understood and agreed that where an amount is calculated with reference to, or over, a period of time, the date of calculation shall be the final date of such period of time).
 
(c)   Payments . Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Company to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America by a certified check drawn on the account of the Company and sent via overnight courier service to such Person at such address as previously provided to the Company in writing (which address, in the case of each of the Buyers, shall initially be as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached to the Securities Purchase Agreement), provided that the Holder may elect to receive a payment of cash via wire transfer of immediately available funds by providing the Company with prior written notice setting out such request and the Holder’s wire transfer instructions. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day. Any amount of Principal or other amounts due under the Transaction Documents which is not paid when due shall result in a late charge being incurred and payable by the Company in an amount equal to interest on such amount at the rate of fifteen percent (15%) per annum from the date such amount was due until the same is paid in full (“ Late Charge ”).
 
 
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25.   DISCLOSURE . Upon receipt or delivery by the Company of any notice in accordance with the terms of this Note, unless the Company has in good faith determined that the matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (for the avoidance of doubt, the Company agrees that any notice required delivered by the Company to the Holder pursuant to Sections 8 or 9 hereof shall be deemed to include material, non-public information), the Company shall within one (1) Business Day after any such receipt or delivery publicly disclose such material, non-public information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise. In the event that the Company believes that a notice contains material, non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the Company so shall indicate to such Holder contemporaneously with delivery of such notice, and in the absence of any such indication, the Holder shall be allowed to presume that all matters relating to such notice do not constitute material, non-public information relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries. Nothing contained in this Section 25 shall limit any obligations of the Company, or any rights of the Holder, under Section 4(i) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
 
26.   CANCELLATION . After all Principal, accrued Interest, Late Charges and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full, this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled, shall be surrendered to the Company for cancellation and shall not be reissued.
 
27.   WAIVER OF NOTICE .  To the extent permitted by law, the Company hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note and the Securities Purchase Agreement.
 
28.   GOVERNING LAW .  This Note shall be construed and enforced in accor­dance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Note shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.  In the event that any provision of this Note is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law.  Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Note. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder.   THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
 
 
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29.   JUDGMENT CURRENCY .
 
(a)   If for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against the Company in any court in any jurisdiction it becomes necessary to convert into any other currency (such other currency being hereinafter in this Section 29 referred to as the “ Judgment Currency ”) an amount due in U.S. dollars under this Note, the conversion shall be made at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Trading Day immediately preceding:
 
(i)   the date actual payment of the amount due, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of New York or in the courts of any other jurisdiction that will give effect to such conversion being made on such date: or
 
(ii)   the date on which the foreign court determines, in the case of any proceeding in the courts of any other jurisdiction (the date as of which such conversion is made pursuant to this Section 29(a)(ii) being hereinafter referred to as the “ Judgment Conversion Date ”).
 
(b)   If in the case of any proceeding in the court of any jurisdiction referred to in Section 29(a)(ii) above, there is a change in the Exchange Rate prevailing between the Judgment Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, the applicable party shall pay such adjusted amount as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of US dollars which could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial order at the Exchange Rate prevailing on the Judgment Conversion Date.
 
(c)   Any amount due from the Company under this provision shall be due as a separate debt and shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other amounts due under or in respect of this Note.
 
30.   MAXIMUM PAYMENTS .  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by applicable law.  In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Company to the Holder and thus refunded to the Company.
 
31.   CERTAIN DEFINITIONS .  For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
 
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(a)   Adjustment Right ” means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 7) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 6 hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).
 
(b)   Aggregate Installment Amount ” means the quotient of (x) $35,000,000 divided by (y) the sum of the number of Installment Dates occurring prior to the Maturity Date.
 
(c)   Approved Stock Plan ” means any employee benefit plan which has been approved by the board of directors of the Company prior to or subsequent to the date hereof pursuant to which shares of Common Stock and standard options to purchase Common Stock may be issued to any employee, officer or director for services provided to the Company in their capacity as such.
 
(d)   Black Scholes Consideration Value ” means the value of the applicable Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be) based on the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the close of business on the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be) and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be) as of the date of issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be), (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 87% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg (using 360 as the input for the annualization factor and the Rogers-Satchell volatility estimator model) and (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest Closing Bid Price for any Trading Day during the ten (10) Trading Day period ending on and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be).
 
(e)   Bloomberg ” means Bloomberg, L.P.
 
(f)   Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
 
(g)   Change of Control ” means any Fundamental Transaction other than (i) any merger of the Company or any of its, direct or indirect, wholly-owned Subsidiaries with or into any of the foregoing Persons, (ii) any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of the shares of Common Stock in which holders of the Company’s voting power immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification continue after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification to hold publicly traded securities and, directly or indirectly, are, in all material respects, the holders of the voting power of the surviving entity (or entities with the authority or voting power to elect the members of the board of directors (or their equivalent if other than a corporation) of such entity or entities) after such reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification, or (iii) pursuant to a migratory merger effected solely for the purpose of changing the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
 
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(h)   Change of Control Redemption Premium ” means 125%.
 
(i)   Closing Bid Price ” and “ Closing Sale Price ” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on the Principal Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price (as the case may be) then the last bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price (as the case may be) of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 23. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period.
 
(j)   Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement, which is the date the Company initially issued the Notes pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
 
(k)   Common Stock ” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
 
(l)   Company Conversion Price ” means, with respect to a particular date of determination, the lower of (i) the Conversion Price then in effect and (ii) 85% of the Market Price.
 
 
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(m)   Conversion Share Ratio ” means as to any applicable Installment Date, the quotient of (i) the number of Pre-Installment Conversion Shares delivered in connection with such Installment Date divided by (ii) the number of Post-Installment Conversion Shares applicable to such Installment Date.
 
(n)   Convertible Securities ” means any capital stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.
 
(o)   Dollar Failure ” means, with respect to a particular date of determination, that the aggregate dollar trading volume (as reported on Bloomberg) of the Common Stock on the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is listed or designated for quotation as of such date of determination over the five (5) consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding such date of determination is less than $1,000,000 (the “ Dollar Failure Limit ”); provided, that, solely with respect to a Company Conversion, a Dollar Failure shall not be deemed to occur if the applicable Company Conversion Amount does not exceed the applicable Maximum Dollar Failure Company Conversion Amount).
 
(p)   Eligible Market ” means The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Principal Market.
 
(q)   Eligibility Date ” means the earlier to occur of (x) the six month anniversary of the Issuance Date and (y) the initial Effective Date (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)
 
(r)   Equity Conditions ” means: (i) either (x) one or more Registration Statements filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall be effective and the prospectus contained therein shall be available for the resale by the Holder of all of the Registrable Securities (which, solely for clarification purposes, includes all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this Note and upon exercise of the Warrants) in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement (i.e., subject to the provisions contained in the Registration Rights Agreement pertaining to Cut-Back Shares, as such term is defined therein, to the extent such Cut-Back Shares are not required to be registered on such Registration Statement) or (y) all Registrable Securities shall be eligible for sale under Rule 144 (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the Company shall have satisfied the current public information requirement of Rule 144(c)(1) (and 144(i)(2), if applicable) and without the need for registration under any applicable federal or state securities laws (in each case, disregarding any limitation on conversion of the Notes, other issuance of securities with respect to the Notes and exercise of the Warrants); (ii) on each day during the period beginning thirty calendar days prior to the applicable date of determination and ending on and including the applicable date of determination (the “ Equity Conditions Measuring Period ”), the Common Stock (including all Registrable Securities) is listed or designated for quotation (as applicable) on an Eligible Market and shall not have been suspended from trading on an Eligible Market (other than
 
 
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suspensions of not more than two (2) days and occurring prior to the applicable date of determination due to business announcements by the Company) nor shall delisting or suspension by an Eligible Market be pending in writing by such Eligible Market; (iii) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company shall have delivered all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of this Note on a timely basis pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and all other shares of capital stock required to be delivered by the Company on a timely basis as set forth in the other Transaction Documents; (iv) any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring determination may be issued in full without violating Section 3(d) hereof; (v) any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring determination may be issued in full without violating the rules or regulations of the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation (as applicable); (vi) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, no public announcement of a pending, proposed or intended Fundamental Transaction shall have occurred which has not been abandoned, terminated or consummated; (vii) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company shall have no knowledge of any fact that would reasonably be expected to cause (1) any effective Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to not be effective or the prospectus contained therein to not be available for the resale of all of the Registrable Securities required to be registered on such Registration Statement in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement (i.e., subject to the provisions contained in the Registration Rights Agreement pertaining to Cut-Back Shares, as such term is defined therein, to the extent such Cut-Back Shares are not required to be registered on such Registration Statement) or (2) any Registrable Securities to not be eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144 (including, without limitation, by the Company’s failure to satisfy the current public information requirement of Rule 144(c)(1) (and/or 144(i)(2), if applicable)) or any applicable federal or state securities laws (in each case, disregarding any limitation on conversion of the Notes, other issuance of securities with respect to the Notes and exercise of the Warrants); (viii) the Holder shall not be in possession of any material, non-public information provided to any of them by the Company, any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers, employees, directors, representatives, agents or the like; (ix) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, there shall not have occurred an Event of Default or an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute an Event of Default, (x) a Price Failure has not occurred and (xi) a Dollar Failure has not occurred.
 
(s)   Equity Conditions Failure ” means that (i) on any day during the period commencing on the applicable Company Installment Notice Date through the later of the applicable Installment Date and the date on which the applicable shares of Common Stock are actually delivered to the Holder, or (ii) on any day during the period commencing fifteen (15) Trading Days prior to the applicable Company Optional Redemption Notice Date through the applicable Company Optional Redemption Date, or, the Equity Conditions have not been satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder); provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing and solely in connection with a Company Conversion hereunder, the Company’s failure to satisfy clause (viii) of the definition of Equity Conditions shall not be deemed to be an Equity Conditions Failure if (x) the Company has properly notified the Holder that it desires to give the Holder material nonpublic information and, prior to the Holder’s receipt of such material nonpublic information, the Holder has delivered a written notice to the Company acknowledging its agreement to receive such material nonpublic information and (y) such Equity Condition is satisfied during the 72 hour period immediately preceding and including each Trading Day in which the Company is required to deliver shares of Common Stock to the Holder (or the Holder’s account with DTC, as applicable) in connection with such Company Conversion.
 
 
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(t)   Excluded Events ” means (i) changes in the national or world economy or financial markets as a whole, (ii) changes in general economic conditions taken as a whole that affect the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their business,  (iii) acts of terrorism or war, including the engagement by the United States of America or any other country in hostilities, and whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or any earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, (iv) any financial statement impact of either (x) the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and (y) the sale of the Company’s interest in Front Range Energy, LLC.
 
(u)   Excluded Securities ” means (i) any Common Stock issued or issuable to directors, officers or employees of the Company in their capacity as such pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan, provided that (A) all such issuances (taking into account the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of any Options) after the date hereof pursuant to this clause (i) do not, in the aggregate, exceed more than 10% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date hereof and (B) the exercise price of any Options is not lowered, none of such options are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such options are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects any of the Buyers; (ii) any Common Stock issued or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of Convertible Securities (other than standard Options to purchase Common Stock issued pursuant to an Approved Stock Plan that are covered by clause (i) above) issued prior to the date hereof, provided that the conversion price of any such Convertible Securities is not lowered (except in accordance with antidilution provisions in such Convertible Securities or Options in effect as of the Subscription Date), none of such Convertible Securities are amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of any such Convertible Securities are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects the Holder or any of the Buyers; (iii) the Company’s Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Preferred Stock ”) issued or issuable as an in-kind dividend on any Preferred Stock outstanding, provided that the dividend rate of such Preferred Stock is not increased and conversion price of any such Preferred Stock is not lowered (except in accordance with antidilution provisions in the Company’s Certificate of Designations, Powers, Preferences and Rights of the Company’s Preferred Stock as in effect as of the Subscription Date (the “ Preferred Certificate of Designations ”), the Preferred Certificate of Designations is not amended to increase the number of Preferred Stock issuable as in-kind dividends thereunder or shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder and none of the terms or conditions of set forth in the Preferred Certificate of Designations are otherwise materially changed in any manner that adversely affects the Holder or any of the Buyers, (iv) any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any conversion, amortization payment or interest payment pursuant to any Note, provided that the conversion price of such Note is not lowered (other than as provided by the terms of such Note as of the Issuance Date (as defined in such Note)) and (v) any Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of any Warrant, provided that the exercise price of such Warrant is not lowered (other than as provided by the terms of such Warrant as of the Issuance Date (as defined in such Warrant)) and such Warrant is not amended to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder; provided, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no Common Stock, Options, Convertible Securities or other securities issued, directly or indirectly, to any Person in connection with any claim arising pursuant to the Delta Case or any Judgment or claim related thereto or related to any EPT Agreement (as defined in the Delta Case) (collectively, the “ Delta Securities ”) shall be an Excluded Security pursuant to any Transaction Document.
 
 
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(v)   Fundamental Transaction ” means that (A) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) another Person or Persons, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to another Person, or (iii) allow another Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (iv) consummate a securities purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than the 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such securities purchase agreement or other business combination), or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Voting Stock of the Company or (B) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate Voting Stock of the Company.
 
(w)   GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
 
(x)   Holder Pro Rata Amount ” means a fraction (i) the numerator of which is the original Principal amount of this Note on the Closing Date and (ii) the denominator of which is the aggregate original principal amount of all Notes issued to the initial purchasers pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement on the Closing Date.
 
(y)   Installment Amount ” means (i) with respect to any Installment Date other than the Maturity Date, the lesser of (A) the product of (I) Aggregate Installment Amount, multiplied by (II) Holder Pro Rata Amount and (B) the Principal amount under this Note as of such Installment Date, and (ii) with respect to the Installment Date that is the Maturity Date, the Principal amount under this Note as of such Installment Date, in each case, as any such Installment Amount may be reduced pursuant to the terms of this Note, whether upon conversion, redemption or otherwise, together with, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), the sum of any accrued and unpaid Interest as of such Installment Date under this Note and accrued and unpaid Late Charges, if any, under this Note as of such Installment Date. In the event the Holder shall sell or otherwise transfer any portion of this Note, the transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of each unpaid Installment Amount hereunder.
 
 
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(z)   Installment Date ” means (i) initially, the twenty-second (22 nd ) Trading Day immediately following the Eligibility Date, (ii) then, (x) if the first Trading Day of the calendar month immediately following the initial Installment Date occurs less than thirty calendar days after the initial Installment Date, the first Trading Day of the second calendar month immediately following the initial Installment Date or (y) otherwise, the first Trading Day of the calendar month immediately following the initial Installment Date and (iii) thereafter, the first Trading Day of the calendar month immediately following the previous Installment Date until the Maturity Date.
 
(aa)   Interest Rate ” means eight percent (8%) per annum, subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 2.
 
(bb)   " Make-Whole Amount " means, as to any Conversion Amount on any Conversion Date, as to any Event of Default Redemption on any Event of Default Redemption Date, as to any Change of Control Redemption on any Change of Control Redemption Date, as to any Company Optional Redemption on any Company Optional Redemption Date or any Redemption on any Redemption Date, the amount of any Interest that, but for (i) the Holder's exercise of its conversion right pursuant to Section 3(c)(i), (ii) an Event of Default Redemption pursuant to Section 4(b), (iii) a Change of Control Redemption pursuant to Section 5(b) or (iv) a Company Optional Redemption pursuant to Section 9, would have accrued with respect to the Conversion Amount being converted or redeemed under this Note at the Interest Rate for the period from the applicable Conversion Date, Event of Default Redemption Date, Change of Control Redemption Date or Company Optional Redemption Date, as the case may be, through the Maturity Date.
 
(cc)   Market Price ” means, for any given date, the quotient of (I) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock for each of the five lowest Trading Days during the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the Trading Day immediately prior to the applicable Installment Date (or other applicable date of conversion hereunder), divided by (II) five (5) (such period, the “ Market Price Measuring Period ”).  All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, reclassification or similar transaction during such Market Price Measuring Period.
 
 
 
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(dd)   Maturity Date ” shall mean [          ]2; provided, however, the Maturity Date may be extended at the option of the Holder (i) in the event that, and for so long as, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or any event shall have occurred and be continuing that with the passage of time and the failure to cure would result in an Event of Default or (ii) through the date that is twenty (20) Business Days after the consummation of a Fundamental Transaction in the event that a Fundamental Transaction is publicly announced or a Change of Control Notice is delivered prior to the Maturity Date, provided further that if a Holder elects to convert some or all of this Note pursuant to Section 3 hereof, and the Conversion Amount would be limited pursuant to Section 3(d) hereunder, the Maturity Date shall automatically be extended until such time as such provision shall not limit the conversion of this Note.
 
(ee)   Maximum Dollar Failure Company Conversion Amount ” means, with respect to any Installment Date, the product of (x) the applicable Installment Amount and (y) the Maximum Dollar Failure Company Conversion Percentage.
 
(ff)   Maximum Dollar Failure Company Conversion Percentage ” means, with respect to a particular date of determination, the quotient of (x) the aggregate dollar trading volume (as reported on Bloomberg) of the Common Stock on the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is listed or designated for quotation as of such date of determination over the five (5) consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding such date of determination, divided by (y) the Dollar Failure Limit; provided, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Price Failure has occurred with respect to such Installment Date, the Maximum Dollar Failure Company Conversion Percentage shall equal zero.
 
(gg)   Options ” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
 
(hh)   Parent Entity ” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.
 
(ii)   Permitted Indebtedness ” means (i) Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Other Notes; (ii) Permitted Senior Indebtedness, (iii) Permitted Subsidiary Indebtedness and (iv) Indebtedness described in Items 2, 4, 5 and 6 of Schedule 3(s) of the Securities Purchase Agreement as in effect as of the Subscription Date; provided, that the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased, the terms of such Indebtedness are not modified to impose more burdensome terms upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and the terms of such Indebtedness are not materially changed in any manner that adversely affects the Holder or any of the Buyers.
 
 

2    Insert fifteen month anniversary of the Issuance Date
 
 
43

 
 
(jj)   Permitted Liens ” means (i) any Lien for taxes not yet due or delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any statutory Lien arising in the ordinary course of business by operation of law with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent, (iii) any Lien created by operation of law, such as materialmen’s liens, mechanics’ liens and other similar liens, arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (iv) Liens securing the Company’s obligations under the Notes; (v) any Lien securing Permitted Senior Indebtedness, (vi) any Lien securing Permitted Subsidiary Indebtedness and (vii) any Lien in effect on the Subscription Date relating to the Indebtedness described in Items 2 and 6 of Schedule 3(s) of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
 
(kk)   Permitted Subsidiary Indebtedness   means the principal of (and premium, if any), interest on, and all fees and other amounts (including, without limitation, any reasonable out-of-pocket costs, enforcement expenses (including reasonable out-of-pocket legal fees and disbursements), collateral protection expenses and other reimbursement or indemnity obligations relating thereto) payable by Kinergy Marketing, LLC under that certain Amendment No. 2 to Loan and Security Agreement, Consent and Waiver dated November 5, 2009 by and between Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation (Western), Kinergy Marketing, LLC and the Company; provided , however , that the aggregate outstanding amount of the Permitted Subsidiary Indebtedness and the Permitted Working Capital Facility does not at any time exceed $30 million.
 
(ll)   Permitted Senior Indebtedness   means the Permitted Working Capital Facility.
 
(mm)   Permitted Working Capital Facility ” means the principal of (and premium, if any), interest on, and all fees and other amounts (including, without limitation, any reasonable out-of-pocket costs, enforcement expenses (including reasonable out-of-pocket legal fees and disbursements), collateral protection expenses and other reimbursement or indemnity obligations relating thereto) payable by Company and/or its Subsidiaries under or in connection with any credit facility to be entered into by the Company and/or its Subsidiaries with one or more financial institutions (and on terms and conditions), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Holders; provided , however , that the aggregate outstanding amount of the Permitted Working Capital Facility and the Permitted Subsidiary Indebtedness does not at any time exceed $30 million.
 
(nn)   Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.
 
(oo)   Post-Installment Conversion Shares ” means that number of shares of Common Stock that would be required to be delivered pursuant to Section 8 on an applicable Installment Date without taking into account the delivery of any Pre-Installment Conversion Shares.
 
 
44

 
 
(pp)   Pre-Installment Period Conversion Price ” means, with respect to a particular date of determination, the lower of (i) the Conversion Price then in effect and (ii) 85% of the quotient of (I) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock for each of the five lowest Trading Days during the twenty (20) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the delivery or deemed delivery of the applicable Company Installment Notice, divided by (II) five (5).  All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination or other similar transaction during any such measuring period.
 
(qq)   Price Failure ” means, with respect to a particular date of determination, that the lower of (i) the quotient of (I) the sum of the VWAP of the Common Stock for each of the five (5) consecutive Trading Day period ending and including the applicable date of determination, divided by (II) five (5), is less than $0.20 (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations or other similar transactions).
 
(rr)   Principal Market ” means the Nasdaq Capital Market.
 
(ss)   Redemption Notices ” means, collectively, the Event of Default Redemption Notice, the Company Optional Redemption Notice, any Company Installment Notice with respect to any Company Redemption, and the Change of Control Redemption Notice and each of the foregoing, individually, a “ Redemption Notice .”
 
(tt)   Redemption Premium ” means (i) in the case of the Events of Default described in Section 4(a) (other than Sections 4(a)(viii) through 4(a)(x)), 125% or (ii) in the case of the Events of Default described in Sections 4(a)(viii) through 4(a)(x), 100%.
 
(uu)   Redemption Prices ” means, collectively, the Event of Default Redemption Price, the Company Optional Redemption Price, the Change of Control Redemption Price, the Company Installment Redemption Price, and each of the foregoing, individually, a “ Redemption Price .”
 
(vv)   Registration Rights Agreement ” means that certain registration rights agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Company and the initial holders of the Notes relating to, among other things, the registration of the resale of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants, as may be amended from time to time.
 
(ww)   Required Holders ” means the holders of Notes representing at least 75% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (excluding any Notes held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).
 
(xx)   SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or the successor thereto.
 
(yy)   Securities Purchase Agreement ” means that certain securities purchase agreement, dated as of the Subscription Date, by and among the Company and the initial holders of the Notes pursuant to which the Company issued the Notes and Warrants, as may be amended from time to time.
 
(zz)   Subscription Date ” means September 27, 2010.
 
 
45

 
 
(aaa)   Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Company, directly or indirectly, (I) owns any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person (other than Front Range Energy, LLC) or (II) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person; provided, that after the Subscription Date, a Person (other than Subsidiaries as of the Subscription Date) shall not become a Subsidiary pursuant to clause (I) unless the Company, directly or indirectly, owns at least 10% of any of the outstanding capital stock or holds at least 10% of any equity or similar interest of such Person (other than Front Range Energy, LLC).
 
(bbb)   Successor Entity ” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.
 
(ccc)   Trading Day ” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Holder.
 
(ddd)   VWAP ” means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market (or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for such security, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such security is then traded) during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “Volume at Price” function or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the VWAP cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 23. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period.
 
 
46

 
 
(eee)   Voting Stock ” of a Person means capital stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power to elect, or the general power to appoint, at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
 
(fff)   Warrants ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Securities Purchase Agreement, and shall include all warrants issued in exchange therefor or replacement thereof.
 
[ signature page follows ]
 

 
 
47

 
 
 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.
 

 
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
 
By: ________________________________
 
Name:
 
Title:
 
 
 
48

 

 
EXHIBIT I

 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
CONVERSION NOTICE
 
Reference is made to the Senior Convertible Note (the “ Note ”) issued to the undersigned by Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”).  In accordance with and pursuant to the Note, the undersigned hereby elects to convert the Conversion Amount (as defined in the Note) of the Note indicated below into shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company, as of the date specified below.
 
Date of Conversion:
 
 
Aggregate Conversion Amount to be converted:
 
 
Please confirm the following information:
 
Conversion Price:
 
 
Number of shares of Common Stock to be issued:
 
 
Please issue the Common Stock into which the Note is being converted in the following name and to the following address:
 
Issue to:
 
   
   
 
Facsimile Number:
 
 
Authorization:
 
 
By:
 
 
Title:
 
 
Dated:
 
 
Account Number:
 
  (if electronic book entry transfer)
 
 
Transaction Code Number:
 
  (if electronic book entry transfer)
 
 
Installment Amount(s) to be reduced (and corresponding Installment Date(s)) and amount of reduction:
 
 
 
 
 
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
 
The Company hereby acknowledges this Conversion Notice and hereby directs [TRANSFER AGENT] to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated September __, 2010 from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by [TRANSFER AGENT].
 

 
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
 
By:  _________________________________
 
Name:
 
Title:



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
50


Exhibit 10.3

 
[FORM OF WARRANT]
 
NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE HOLDER (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY), IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR RULE 144A UNDER SAID ACT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES.
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
 
Warrant To Purchase Common Stock
 
Warrant No.:                                           
Date of Issuance: September __, 2010 (“ Issuance Date ”)
 
Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, [HUDSON BAY MASTER FUND, LTD.], [OTHER BUYERS], the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the “ Holder ”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, upon exercise of this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “ Warrant ”), at any time or times on or after the Issuance Date, but not after 11:59 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date (as defined below), [______________] 1 (subject to adjustment as provided herein) fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock (as defined below)   (the “ Warrant Shares ”). Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant shall have the meanings set forth in Section 16 . This Warrant is one of the Warrants to Purchase Common Stock (the “ SPA Warrants ”) issued pursuant to Section 1 of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of September __, 2010 (the “ Subscription Date ”), by and among the Company and the investors (the “ Buyers ”) referred to therein (the “ Securities Purchase Agreement ”).  Under the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Buyers are also purchasing senior convertible notes (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes” ) and are entering into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Company (the “Registration Rights Agreement” ).
 
 
 

1   50% warrant coverage.
 

 
 

 

1.
EXERCISE OF WARRANT .
 
(a)            Mechanics of Exercise . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the limitations set forth in Section 1(f)), this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the Issuance Date, in whole or in part, by delivery (whether via facsimile or otherwise) of a written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Exercise Notice ”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant. Within one (1) Trading Day following an exercise of this Warrant as aforesaid, the Holder shall deliver payment to the Company of an amount equal to the Exercise Price in effect on the date of such exercise multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant was so exercised (the “ Aggregate Exercise Price ”) in cash or via wire transfer of immediately available funds if the Holder did not notify the Company in such Exercise Notice that such exercise was made pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)). The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original of this Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares. Execution and delivery of an Exercise Notice for all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original of this Warrant after delivery of the Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. On or before the first (1 st ) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received an Exercise Notice, the Company shall transmit by facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of such Exercise Notice to the Holder and the Company’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”). On or before the third (3 rd ) Trading Day following the date on which the Company has received such Exercise Notice, the Company shall (X) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, upon the request of the Holder, credit such aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit/ Withdrawal at Custodian system, or (Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program, issue and deliver to the Holder or, at the Holder’s instruction pursuant to the Exercise Notice, the Holder’s agent or designee, in each case, sent by reputable overnight courier to the address as specified in the applicable Exercise Notice, a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee (as indicated in the applicable Exercise Notice), for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise. Upon delivery of an Exercise Notice, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder’s DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares (as the case may be). If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon such exercise, then, at the request of the Holder, the Company shall as soon as practicable and in no event later than three (3) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue and deliver to the Holder (or its designee) a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is exercised. No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but rather the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. The Company shall pay any and all taxes which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, except in the case where an exercise of this Warrant is validly made pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)), the Company’s failure to deliver Warrant Shares to the Holder on or prior to the second (2nd) Trading Day after the Company’s receipt of the Aggregate Exercise Price shall not be deemed to be a breach of this Warrant.
 

 
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(b)            Exercise Price . For purposes of this Warrant, “ Exercise Price ” means $0.85, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
 
(c)            Company’s Failure to Timely Deliver Securities . If the Company shall fail, for any reason or for no reason, to issue to the Holder within the later of (i) three (3) Trading Days after receipt of the applicable Exercise Notice and (ii) two (2) Trading Days after the Company’s receipt of the Aggregate Exercise Price (or valid notice of a Cashless Exercise) (such later date, the “ Share Delivery Deadline ”), a certificate for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or to credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for such number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise of this Warrant (as the case may be) (a “ Delivery Failure ”), and if on or after such Share Delivery Deadline the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise that the Holder anticipated receiving from the Company, then, in addition to all other remedies available to the Holder, the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “ Buy-In Price ”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) (and to issue such shares of Common Stock) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such shares of Common Stock or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder (as the case may be) and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock times (B) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Exercise Notice.
 
(d)            Cashless Exercise . Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary (other than Section 1(f) below), if at the time of exercise hereof a Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement)) is not effective (or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use) for use on a continuous basis for the resale by the Holder of all of the Warrant Shares at market prices from time to time, then the Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the “Net Number” of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a “ Cashless Exercise ”):
 

 
3

 

Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)
B
 
For purposes of the foregoing formula:
 
A= the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.
 
B= as applicable: (i) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the applicable Exercise Notice if such Exercise Notice is (1) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof on a day that is not a Trading Day or (2) both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof on a Trading Day prior to the opening of “regular trading hours” (as defined in Rule 600(b)(64) of Regulation NMS promulgated under the federal securities laws) on such Trading Day, (ii) the Bid Price of the Common Stock as of the time of the Holder’s execution of the applicable Exercise Notice if such Exercise Notice is executed during “regular trading hours” on a Trading Day and is delivered within two (2) hours thereafter pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof and (iii) the Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock on the date of the applicable Exercise Notice if the date of such Exercise Notice is a Trading Day and such Exercise Notice is both executed and delivered pursuant to Section 1(a) hereof after the close of “regular trading hours” on such Trading Day.
 
 
C= the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.
 
(e)            Disputes .  In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the number of Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 13.
 
(f)            Limitations on Exercises .
 
 
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(i)            Beneficial Ownership . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Warrant, this Warrant shall not be exercisable by the Holder hereof to the extent (but only to the extent) that after giving effect to such exercise the Holder (together with its affiliates and joint actors) would beneficially own in excess of  [4.99%] [9.99%] (the “ Maximum Percentage ”) of the Common Stock. To the extent the above limitation applies, the determination of whether this Warrant shall be exercisable (vis-à-vis other convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities owned by the Holder or any of its affiliates) and of which such securities shall be exercisable (as among all such securities owned by the Holder) shall, subject to such Maximum Percentage limitation, be made on the basis of the first submission to the Company for conversion, exercise or exchange (as the case may be). For purposes of the first sentence of this paragraph, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates and joint actors shall include the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant with respect to which the determination of such sentence is being made, but shall exclude shares of Common Stock which would be issuable upon (i) exercise of the remaining, unexercised portion of this Warrant beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates or joint actors and (ii) exercise or conversion of the unexercised or unconverted portion of any other securities of the Company beneficially owned by such Person and its affiliates or joint actors (including, without limitation, the Notes, any other convertible notes or convertible preferred shares or warrants), which in each case is subject to a limitation on conversion or exercise analogous to the limitation contained herein.  For the purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership and all determinations and calculations (including, without limitation, with respect to calculations of percentage ownership) shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder except as set forth in the preceding sentence. No prior inability to exercise this Warrant pursuant to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions of this paragraph with respect to any subsequent determination of exercisability. The provisions of this paragraph shall be implemented in a manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms of this paragraph to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or inconsistent with the intended Maximum Percentage beneficial ownership limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or desirable to properly give effect to such Maximum Percentage limitation. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor Holder of this Warrant. The holders of Common Stock shall be third party beneficiaries of this paragraph and the Company may not waive this paragraph without the consent of holders of a majority of its Common Stock. For any reason at any time, upon the written or oral request of the Holder, the Company shall within one (1) Business Day confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding, including by virtue of any prior conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities into Common Stock, including, without limitation, pursuant to this Warrant or securities issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. By written notice to the Company, any Holder may increase or decrease the Maximum Percentage to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99% specified in such notice; provided that (i) any such increase will not be effective until the 61st day after such notice is delivered to the Company, and (ii) any such increase or decrease will apply only to the Holder sending such notice and not to any other holder of SPA Warrants.
 

 
5

 

(ii)            [Intentionally Omitted] .
 
(g)            Insufficient Authorized Shares . The Company shall at all times keep reserved for issuance under this Warrant a number of shares of Common Stock at least equal to 150% of the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall be necessary to satisfy the Company’s obligation to issue shares of Common Stock hereunder (without regard to any limitation otherwise contained herein with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock that may be acquirable upon exercise of this Warrant). If, notwithstanding the foregoing, and not in limitation thereof, at any time while any of the SPA Warrants remain outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon exercise of the SPA Warrants at least a number of shares of Common Stock (the “ Required Reserve Amount ”) equal to the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of all of the SPA Warrants then outstanding (an “ Authorized Share Failure ”), then the Company shall immediately take all action reasonably necessary to increase the Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for all the SPA Warrants then outstanding. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, as soon as practicable after the date of the occurrence of an Authorized Share Failure, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after the occurrence of such Authorized Share Failure, the Company shall hold a meeting of its stockholders for the approval of an increase in the number of authorized shares of Common Stock. In connection with such meeting, the Company shall provide each stockholder with a proxy statement and shall use its reasonable best efforts to solicit its stockholders’ approval of such increase in authorized shares of Common Stock and to cause its board of directors to recommend to the stockholders that they approve such proposal.
 
2.            ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES . The Exercise Price and number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 2.
 
(a)            Stock Dividends and Splits . Without limiting any provision of Section 4, if the Company, at any time on or after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement, (i) pays a stock dividend on one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock or otherwise makes a distribution on any class of capital stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares or (iii) combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) one or more classes of its then outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event.  Any adjustment made pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution, and any adjustment pursuant to clause (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination. If any event requiring an adjustment under this paragraph occurs during the period that an Exercise Price is calculated hereunder, then the calculation of such Exercise Price shall be adjusted appropriately to reflect such event.
 

 
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(b)            Adjustment Upon Issuance of Shares of Common Stock . If and whenever on or after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company issues or sells, or in accordance with this Section 2 is deemed to have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock (including the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock owned or held by or for the account of the Company, but excluding any Excluded Securities (as defined in the Notes) issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold) for a consideration per share (the “ New Issuance Price ”) less than a price equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale or deemed issuance or sale (such Exercise Price then in effect is referred to as the “ Applicable Price ”) (the foregoing a “ Dilutive Issuance ”), then immediately after such Dilutive Issuance, the Exercise Price then in effect shall be reduced to an amount equal to the New Issuance Price. For purposes of determining the adjusted Exercise Price under this Section 2(b), the following shall be applicable:
 
(i)            Issuance of Options .  If the Company in any manner grants or sells any Options and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Option or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the granting or sale of such Option for such price per share. For purposes of this Section 2(b)(i), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option” shall be equal to the lower of (x) the exercise price set forth in such Option for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option and (y) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to any one share of Common Stock upon the granting or sale of such Option, upon exercise of such Option and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Security issuable upon exercise of such Option. Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock or of such Convertible Securities upon the exercise of any such Option or upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities.  For clarification purposes and without limiting the foregoing, in calculating the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of any such Options or upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of any such Option” paid or payable to the Company pursuant to this Section 2(b), any amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Option (or any other Person) upon such conversion, exercise or exchange of such Option shall reduce the value of the consideration paid or payable to the Company in such conversion, exercise or exchange and/or, as the case may be, the value of any other consideration or benefit conferred.
 

 
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(ii)            Issuance of Convertible Securities .  If the Company in any manner issues or sells any Convertible Securities and the lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof is less than the Applicable Price, then such share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the Company at the time of the issuance or sale of such Convertible Securities for such price per share.  For the purposes of this Section 2(b)(ii), the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof” shall be equal to the lower of (x) the conversion price set forth in such Convertible Security for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof and (y) the sum of the lowest amounts of consideration (if any) received or receivable by the Company with respect to one share of Common Stock upon the issuance or sale of such Convertible Security and upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Security. Except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made upon the actual issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon conversion, exercise or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and if any such issue or sale of such Convertible Securities is made upon exercise of any Options for which adjustment of this Warrant has been or is to be made pursuant to other provisions of this Section 2(b), except as contemplated below, no further adjustment of the Exercise Price shall be made by reason of such issue or sale.  For clarification purposes and without limiting the foregoing, in calculating the “lowest price per share for which one share of Common Stock is issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange thereof” paid or payable to the Company pursuant to this Section 2(b), any amounts paid or payable to the holder of such Convertible Security (or any other Person) upon conversion or exercise (as applicable) of such Convertible Security shall reduce the value of the consideration paid or payable to the Company in such conversion, exercise or exchange and/or, as the case may be, the value of any other consideration or benefit conferred.
 
(iii)            Change in Option Price or Rate of Conversion . If the purchase or exercise price provided for in any Options, the additional consideration, if any, payable upon the issue, conversion, exercise or exchange of any Convertible Securities, or the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock increases or decreases at any time, the Exercise Price in effect at the time of such increase or decrease shall be adjusted to the Exercise Price which would have been in effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities provided for such increased or decreased purchase price, additional consideration or increased or decreased conversion rate, as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold. For purposes of this Section 2(b)(iii), if the terms of any Option or Convertible Security that was outstanding as of the Subscription Date are increased or decreased in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence, then such Option or Convertible Security and the shares of Common Stock deemed issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange thereof shall be deemed to have been issued as of the date of such increase or decrease. No adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(b) shall be made if such adjustment would result in an increase of the Exercise Price then in effect.
 

 
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(iv)            Calculation of Consideration Received . If any Option or Convertible Security or Adjustment Right is issued in connection with the issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of any other securities of the Company, together comprising one integrated transaction, (x) such Option or Convertible Security (as applicable) or Adjustment Right (as applicable) will be deemed to have been issued for consideration equal to the Black Scholes Consideration Value thereof and (y) the other securities issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold in such integrated transaction shall be deemed to have been issued for consideration equal to the difference of (I) the aggregate consideration received or receivable by the Company minus (II) the Black Scholes Consideration Value of each such Option or Convertible Security (as applicable) or Adjustment Right (as applicable).  If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold or deemed to have been issued or sold for cash, the consideration received therefor will be deemed to be the net amount of consideration received by the Company therefor. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration other than cash, the amount of such consideration received by the Company will be the fair value of such consideration, except where such consideration consists of publicly traded securities, in which case the amount of consideration received by the Company for such securities will be the arithmetic average of the VWAPs of such security for each of the five (5) Trading Days immediately preceding the date of receipt. If any shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued to the owners of the non-surviving entity in connection with any merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, the amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be the fair value of such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving entity as is attributable to such shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the case may be. The fair value of any consideration other than cash or publicly traded securities will be determined jointly by the Company and the Holder. If such parties are unable to reach agreement within ten (10) days after the occurrence of an event requiring valuation  (the “ Valuation Event ”), the fair value of such consideration will be determined within five (5) Trading Days after the tenth (10 th ) day following such Valuation Event by an independent, reputable appraiser jointly selected by the Company and the Holder. The determination of such appraiser shall be final and binding upon all parties absent manifest error and the fees and expenses of such appraiser shall be borne by the Company.
 
(v)            Record Date . If the Company takes a record of the holders of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them (A) to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in shares of Common Stock, Options or in Convertible Securities or (B) to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, then such record date will be deemed to be the date of the issue or sale of the shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued or sold upon the declaration of such dividend or the making of such other distribution or the date of the granting of such right of subscription or purchase (as the case may be).
 
(c)            Number of Warrant Shares . Simultaneously with any adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 2, the number of Warrant Shares that may be purchased upon exercise of this Warrant shall be increased or decreased proportionately, so that after such adjustment the aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder for the adjusted number of Warrant Shares shall be the same as the aggregate Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment (without regard to any limitations on exercise contained herein).
 

 
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(d)            Holder's Right of Alternative Exercise Price Following Issuance of Certain Options or Convertible Securities .  Subject to Section 4(n) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, in addition to and not in limitation of the other provisions of this Section 2, if the Company in any manner issues or sells any Options or Convertible Securities (any such securities, " Variable Price Securities ") after the Subscription Date that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock at a price which varies or may vary with the market price of the Common Shares, including by way of one or more reset(s) to a fixed price, but exclusive of such formulations reflecting customary anti-dilution provisions (such as share splits, share combinations, share dividends and similar transactions) (each of the formulations for such variable price being herein referred to as, the " Variable Price "), the Company shall provide written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier to the Holder on the date of issuance of such Convertible Securities or Options.  Subject to Section 4(n) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, from and after the date the Company issues any such Convertible Securities or Options with a Variable Price, the Holder shall have the right, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion to substitute the Variable Price for the Exercise Price upon exercise of this Warrant by designating in the Exercise Notice delivered upon any exercise of this Warrant that solely for purposes of such exercise the Holder is relying on the Variable Price rather than the Exercise Price then in effect.  The Holder's election to rely on a Variable Price for a particular exercise of this Warrant shall not obligate the Holder to rely on a Variable Price for any future exercises of this Warrant.
 
(e)            Other Events . In the event that the Company (or any Subsidiary thereof) shall take any action to which the provisions hereof are not strictly applicable, or, if applicable, would not operate to protect the Holder from dilution or if any event occurs of the type contemplated by the provisions of this Section 2 but not expressly provided for by such provisions (including, without limitation, the granting of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock rights or other rights with equity features), then the Company’s board of directors shall in good faith determine and implement an appropriate adjustment in the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares (if applicable) so as to protect the rights of the Holder, provided that no such adjustment pursuant to this Section 2(e) will increase the Exercise Price or decrease the number of Warrant Shares as otherwise determined pursuant to this Section 2, provided further that if the Holder does not accept such adjustments as appropriately protecting its interests hereunder against such dilution, then the Company’s board of directors and the Holder shall agree, in good faith, upon an independent investment bank of nationally recognized standing to make such appropriate adjustments, whose determination shall be final and binding and whose fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company.
 
(f)            Calculations . All calculations under this Section 2 shall be made by rounding to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100 th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.
 

 
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3.            RIGHTS UPON DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS . In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “ Distribution ”), at any time after the issuance of this Warrant, then, in each such case, the Holder shall be entitled to participate in such Distribution to the same extent that the Holder would have participated therein if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for such Distribution, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the participation in such Distribution (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Distributions would result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Distribution to such extent (or the beneficial ownership of any such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Distribution to such extent) and such Distribution to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage).
 
4.
PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS .
 
(a)            Purchase Rights .  In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “ Purchase Rights ”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on exercise hereof, including without limitation, the Maximum Percentage) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights (provided, however, to the extent that the Holder’s right to participate in any such Purchase Right would result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage, then the Holder shall not be entitled to participate in such Purchase Right to such extent (or beneficial ownership of such shares of Common Stock as a result of such Purchase Right to such extent) and such Purchase Right to such extent shall be held in abeyance for the Holder until such time, if ever, as its right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the Maximum Percentage).
 

 
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(b)            Fundamental Transactions .  The Company shall not enter into or be party to a Fundamental Transaction unless the Successor Entity assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4(b) pursuant to written agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder and approved by the Holder prior to such Fundamental Transaction, including agreements to deliver to the Holder in exchange for this Warrant a security of the Successor Entity evidenced by a written instrument substantially similar in form and substance to this Warrant, including, without limitation, which is exercisable for a corresponding number of shares of capital stock equivalent to the shares of Common Stock acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) prior to such Fundamental Transaction, and with an exercise price which applies the exercise price hereunder to such shares of capital stock (but taking into account the relative value of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to such Fundamental Transaction and the value of such shares of capital stock, such adjustments to the number of shares of capital stock and such exercise price being for the purpose of protecting the economic value of this Warrant immediately prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction). Upon the consummation of each Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, the provisions of this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the Successor Entity), and may exercise every right and power of the Company and shall assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents with the same effect as if such Successor Entity had been named as the Company herein. Upon consummation of each Fundamental Transaction, the Successor Entity shall deliver to the Holder confirmation that there shall be issued upon exercise of this Warrant at any time after the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction, in lieu of the shares of Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Sections 3 and 4(a) above, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter)) issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction, such shares of publicly traded common stock (or its equivalent) of the Successor Entity (including its Parent Entity) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of the applicable Fundamental Transaction had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant, except to the extent prohibited by the rules and regulations of the Principal Market), as adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Warrant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, and without limiting Section 1(f) hereof, the Holder may elect, at its sole option, by delivery of written notice to the Company to waive this Section 4(b) to permit the Fundamental Transaction without the assumption of this Warrant.  In addition to and not in substitution for any other rights hereunder, prior to the consummation of each Fundamental Transaction pursuant to which holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive securities or other assets with respect to or in exchange for shares of Common Stock (a “ Corporate Event ”), the Company shall make appropriate provision to insure that the Holder will thereafter have the right to receive upon an exercise of this Warrant at any time after the consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction but prior to the Expiration Date, in lieu of the shares of the Common Stock (or other securities, cash, assets or other property (except such items still issuable under Sections 3 and 4 (a) above, which shall continue to be receivable thereafter)) issuable upon the exercise of the Warrant prior to such Fundamental Transaction, such shares of stock, securities, cash, assets or any other property whatsoever (including warrants or other purchase or subscription rights) which the Holder would have been entitled to receive upon the happening of the applicable Fundamental Transaction had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the applicable Fundamental Transaction (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant, except to the extent prohibited by the rules and regulations of the Principal Market). Provision made pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Holder.
 

 
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(c)            Black Scholes Value . Notwithstanding the foregoing and the provisions of Section 4(b) above, in the event of (x) a Fundamental Transaction or (y) the Company (or any successor thereto) shall cease to be a publicly traded corporation whose common stock is quoted on or listed for trading on an Eligible Market, if the Holder has not exercised this Warrant in full prior to the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, at the request of the Holder delivered before the ninetieth (90 th ) day after the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction, the Company or the Successor Entity (as the case may be) shall purchase this Warrant from the Holder on the date of such request by paying to the Holder cash in an amount equal to the Black Scholes Value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant that remained on the date of the consummation of such Fundamental Transaction.
 
(d)            Application . The provisions of this Section 4 shall apply similarly and equally to successive Fundamental Transactions and Corporate Events and shall be applied as if this Warrant (and any such subsequent warrants) were fully exercisable and without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant (provided that the Holder shall continue to be entitled to the benefit of the Maximum Percentage, applied however with respect to shares of capital stock registered under the 1934 Act and thereafter receivable upon exercise of this Warrant (or any such other warrant)).
 
5.            NONCIRCUMVENTION . The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its Certificate of Incorporation (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), Bylaws (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, and will at all times in good faith carry out all the provisions of this Warrant and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect, (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) shall, so long as any of the SPA Warrants are outstanding, take all action necessary to reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of the SPA Warrants, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of the SPA Warrants then outstanding (without regard to any limitations on exercise).
 
6.            WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER . Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in its capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in its capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which it is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant.  In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company. Notwithstanding this Section 6, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the stockholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the stockholders.
 

 
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7.            REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS .
 
(a)            Transfer of Warrant . If this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred.
 
(b)            Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant . Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.
 
(c)            Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants . This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 7(d)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, no warrants for fractional shares of Common Stock shall be given.
 
(d)            Issuance of New Warrants . Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant (i) shall be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 7(a) or Section 7(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant which is the same as the Issuance Date, and (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant.
 
8.            NOTICES .  Whenever notice is required to be given under this Warrant, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 9(f) of the Securities Purchase Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Warrant, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefor. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) immediately upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares, setting forth in reasonable detail, and certifying, the calculation of such adjustment(s) and (ii) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, (B) with respect to any grants, issuances or sales of any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property to holders of shares of Common Stock or (C) for determining rights to vote with respect to any Fundamental Transaction, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder and (iii) at least ten (10) Trading Days prior to the consummation of any Fundamental Transaction.  To the extent that any notice provided hereunder constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries , the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the SEC (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. It is expressly understood and agreed that the time of execution specified by the Holder in each Exercise Notice shall be definitive and may not be disputed or challenged by the Company.
 

 
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9.            AMENDMENT AND WAIVER .  Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant (other than Section 1(f)(i)) may be amended and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holder. The Holder shall be entitled, at its option, to the benefit of any amendment of (i) any other similar warrant issued under the Securities Purchase Agreement or (ii) any other similar warrant. No consideration shall be offered or paid to the Holder to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Warrant unless the same consideration is also offered to all of the holders of the other SPA Warrants.  No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.
 
10.            SEVERABILITY .  If any provision of this Warrant is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Warrant so long as this Warrant as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties. The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s).
 
11.            GOVERNING LAW . This Warrant shall be construed and enforced in accor­dance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.  In the event that any provision of this Warrant is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law.  Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Warrant. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder.   THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS WARRANT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
 

 
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12.            CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS . This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof.  The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant. Terms used in this Warrant but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.
 
13.            DISPUTE RESOLUTION . In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price, the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price, the Bid Price or fair market value or the arithmetic calculation of the number of Warrant Shares (as the case may be), the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations (as the case may be) via facsimile (i) within two (2) Business Days after receipt of the applicable notice giving rise to such dispute to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be) or (ii) if no notice gave rise to such dispute, at any time after the Holder learned of the circumstances giving rise to such dispute (including, without limitation, as to whether any issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale was an issuance or sale or deemed issuance or sale of Excluded Securities). If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation (as the case may be) of the Exercise Price, the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price, the Bid Price or fair market value or the number of Warrant Shares (as the case may be) within three (3) Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Company or the Holder (as the case may be), then the Company shall, within two (2) Business Days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price, the Closing Bid Price, the Closing Sale Price, the Bid Price or fair market value (as the case may be) to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the number of Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant. The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant (as the case may be) to perform the determinations or calculations (as the case may be) and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten (10) Business Days from the time it receives such disputed determinations or calculations (as the case may be). Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation (as the case may be) shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.
 
14.            REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATION, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF . The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, exercises and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Warrant (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 2 hereof). The issuance of shares and certificates for shares as contemplated hereby upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder or such shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name other than the Holder or its agent on its behalf.
 

 
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15.            TRANSFER . This Warrant may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without the consent of the Company.
 
16.            CERTAIN DEFINITIONS .  For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
(a)           “ Adjustment Right ” means any right granted with respect to any securities issued in connection with, or with respect to, any issuance or sale (or deemed issuance or sale in accordance with Section 2) of shares of Common Stock (other than rights of the type described in Section 3 an 4 hereof) that could result in a decrease in the net consideration received by the Company in connection with, or with respect to, such securities (including, without limitation, any cash settlement rights, cash adjustment or other similar rights).
 
(b)           “ Bid Price ” means, for any security as of the particular time of determination, the bid price for such security on the Principal Market as reported by Bloomberg as of such time of determination, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the bid price of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg as of such time of determination, or if the foregoing does not apply, the bid price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg as of such time of determination, or, if no bid price is reported for such security by Bloomberg as of such time of determination, the average of the bid prices of any market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.) as of such time of determination. If the Bid Price cannot be calculated for a security as of the particular time of determination on any of the foregoing bases, the Bid Price of such security as of such time of determination shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 13. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period.
 
 
 
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(c)           “ Black Scholes Consideration Value ” means the value of the applicable Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be) based on the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the close of business on the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be) and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be) as of the date of issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be), (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 87% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg (using 360 as the input for the annualization factor and the Rogers-Satchell volatility estimator model) and (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the highest Closing Bid Price for any Trading Day during the ten (10) Trading Day period ending on and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the public announcement of the execution of definitive documents with respect to the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security (as the case may be).
 
(d)           “ Black Scholes Value ” means the value of this Warrant based on the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg determined as of the day of consummation of the applicable Fundamental Transaction for pricing purposes and reflecting (i) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the remaining term of this Warrant as of the date of the Holder’s request pursuant to Section 4(c), (ii) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 87% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg as of the Trading Day immediately following the public announcement of the applicable Fundamental Transaction (using 360 as the input for the annualization factor and the Rogers-Satchell volatility estimator model) and, if applicable, (iii) the underlying price per share used in such calculation shall be the sum of the price per share being offered in cash, if any, plus the value of any non-cash consideration, if any, being offered in the applicable Fundamental Transaction.
 
(e)           “ Bloomberg ” means Bloomberg, L.P.
 
(f)           “ Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
 
(g)           “ Closing Bid Price ” and “ Closing Sale Price ” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on the Principal Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price (as the case may be) then the last bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security prior to 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price (as the case may be) of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder.  If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 13. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period.
 

 
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(h)           “ Common Stock ” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.
 
(i)           “ Convertible Securities ” means any capital stock or other security (other than Options) that is at any time and under any circumstances, directly or indirectly, convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or which otherwise entitles the holder thereof to acquire, any shares of Common Stock.
 
(j)           “ Eligible Market ” means The New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Principal Market.
 
(k)           “ Equity Conditions ” means: (i) on each day during the period beginning three month prior to the applicable date of determination and ending on and including the applicable date of determination either (x) one or more Registration Statements filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement shall be effective and the prospectus contained therein shall be available for the resale by the Holder of all of the Registrable Securities (which, solely for clarification purposes, includes all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes or otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Note and upon exercise of the SPA Warrants) in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement (i.e., subject to the provisions contained in the Registration Rights Agreement pertaining to Cut-Back Shares, as such term is defined therein, to the extent such Cut-Back Shares are not required to be registered on such Registration Statement) or (y) all Registrable Securities shall be eligible for sale without restriction under Rule 144 (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the Company shall have satisfied the current public information requirement of Rule 144(c)(1) (and 144(i)(2), if applicable) and without the need for registration under any applicable federal or state securities laws (in each case, disregarding any limitation on conversion of the Notes, other issuance of securities with respect to the Notes and exercise of the SPA Warrants); (ii) on each day during the period beginning forty-five calendar days prior to the applicable date of determination and ending on and including the applicable date of determination (the “ Equity Conditions Measuring Period ”), the Common Stock (including all Registrable Securities) is listed or designated for quotation (as applicable) on an Eligible Market and shall not have been suspended from trading on an Eligible Market (other than suspensions of not more than two (2) days and occurring prior to the applicable date of determination due to business announcements by the Company) nor shall delisting or suspension by an Eligible Market be pending in writing by such Eligible Market; (iii) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, the Company shall have delivered all shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the SPA Warrants on a timely basis as set forth in Section 1(a) hereof and all other shares of capital stock required to be delivered by the Company on a timely basis as set forth in the other Transaction Documents; (iv) any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring determination may be issued in full without violating Section 1(f) hereof; (v) any shares of Common Stock to be issued in connection with the event requiring determination may be issued in full without violating the rules or regulations of the Eligible Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or designated for quotation (as applicable); (vi) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, no public announcement of a pending, proposed or intended Fundamental Transaction shall have occurred which has not been abandoned, terminated or consummated; (vii) the Company shall have no knowledge of any fact that would reasonably be expected to cause (1) any Registration Statement filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement to not be effective or the prospectus contained therein to not be available for the resale of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement (i.e., subject to the provisions contained in the Registration Rights Agreement pertaining to Cut-Back Shares, as such term is defined therein, to the extent such Cut-Back Shares are not required to be registered on such Registration Statement) or (2) any Registrable Securities to not be eligible for sale without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (including, without limitation, by the Company’s failure to satisfy the current public information requirement of Rule 144(c)(1) (and/or 144(i)(2), if applicable)) or any applicable state securities laws (in each case, disregarding any limitation on conversion of the Notes, other issuance of securities with respect to the Notes and exercise of the SPA Warrants); (viii) the Holder shall not be in (and no other Buyer shall be in) possession of any material, non-public information provided to any of them by the Company, any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers, employees, directors, representatives, agents or the like; (ix) on each day during the Equity Conditions Measuring Period, there shall not have occurred an Event of Default (as defined in the Notes) or an event that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute an Event of Default,  (x) a Price Failure (as defined in the Notes) has not occurred and (xi) a Dollar Failure (as defined in the Notes) has not occurred.
 

 
19

 

(l)           “ Equity Conditions Failure ” means that on any day during the period commencing twenty (20) Trading Days prior to the Mandatory Exercise Notice Date through the Mandatory Exercise Date, the Equity Conditions have not been satisfied (or waived in writing by the Holder).
 
(m)           “ Expiration Date ” means the date that is the seventh (7 th ) anniversary of the Issuance Date or, if such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market (a “ Holiday ”), the next date that is not a Holiday.
 
(n)           “ Fundamental Transaction ” means that (i) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (1) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) any other Person, or (2) sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its respective properties or assets to any other Person, or (3) allow any other Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (4) consummate a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with any other Person whereby such other Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination), or (5) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Common Stock, or (ii) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Voting Stock of the Company.
 
(o)           “ Options ” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.
 
(p)           “ Parent Entity ” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Fundamental Transaction.
 
(q)           “ Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.
 
(r)           “ Principal Market ” means the Nasdaq Capital Market.
 

 
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(s)           “ Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Company, directly or indirectly, (I) owns any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person (other than Front Range Energy, LLC) or (II) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person; provided, that after the Subscription Date, a Person (other than Subsidiaries as of the Subscription Date) shall not become a Subsidiary pursuant to clause (I) unless the Company, directly or indirectly, owns at least 10% of any of the outstanding capital stock or holds at least 10% of any equity or similar interest of such Person (other than Front Range Energy, LLC).
 
(t)           “ Successor Entity ” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Fundamental Transaction or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Fundamental Transaction shall have been entered into.
 
(u)           “ Trading Day ” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded, provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time) unless such day is otherwise designated as a Trading Day in writing by the Holder.
 
(v)           “ Voting Stock ” of a Person means capital stock of such Person of the class or classes pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power to elect, or the general power to appoint, at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of such Person (irrespective of whether or not at the time capital stock of any other class or classes shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
 
(w)           “ VWAP ” means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market (or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for such security, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such security is then traded) during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “Volume at Price” function or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.). If VWAP cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder. If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures in Section 13. All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during such period.
 

 
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17.            MANDATORY EXERCISE . If at any time after the date the Company has initially satisfied all of the Equity Conditions (the “ Mandatory Exercise Eligibility Date ”), (i) the Common Stock trades at a price equal to or greater than $2.12 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock combinations and the like occurring from and after the Issuance Date) (the “ Trigger Price ”) for twenty (20) Trading Days in any thirty (30) consecutive Trading Day Period following the Mandatory Exercise Eligibility Date (such thirty (30) consecutive Trading Days during which the condition in this clause (i) is satisfied are referred to herein as the  “ Mandatory Exercise Measuring Period ”), (ii) the average daily dollar trading volume (as reported on Bloomberg) of the Common Stock on the applicable Eligible Market for each Trading Day during the Mandatory Exercise Measuring Period   exceeds $250,000 per day and (iii) no Equity Conditions Failure shall have occurred, then the Company shall have the right to require the Holder to exercise all, but not less than all, of this Warrant for all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares (or, if the Holder has delivered a written notice to the Company stating that such exercise would result in a violation of Section 1(f) (a “ Blocker Notice ”), the Company shall have the right to require the Holder to exercise this Warrant for such number of Warrant Shares that may be exercise hereunder without violating Section 1(f) (the “ Permitted Exercise Amount ”)) in accordance with Section 1 hereof (a “ Mandatory Exercise ”).  The Company may exercise its right to require exercise under this Section 17 on one occasion (or, if the Holder has delivered a Blocker Notice to the Company, on such number of additional occasions as necessary to permit a Mandatory Exercise with respect to the entire amount of Warrant Shares issuable hereunder) by delivering (provided that all of the conditions set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) above are then satisfied), on the first (1 st ) Trading Day immediately following the end of the Mandatory Exercise Measuring Period, a written notice thereof by facsimile and overnight courier to the Holder (the “ Mandatory Exercise Notice ” and the date the Holder receives such notice by facsimile is referred to as the “ Mandatory Exercise Notice Date ”). The Mandatory Exercise Notice shall be irrevocable. The Mandatory Exercise Notice shall (1) state the Trading Day selected for the Mandatory Exercise in accordance with this Section 17, which Trading Day shall be at least five (5) Trading Days but not more than fifteen (15) Trading Days following the Mandatory Exercise Notice Date (the “ Mandatory Exercise Date ”), (2) state the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Holder on the Mandatory Exercise Date, (3) contain a certification from the Chief Executive Officer of the Company that there has been no Equity Conditions Failure and (4) contain a certification from the Chief Executive Officer of the Company that the Company has simultaneously taken the same action with respect to all of the other SPA Warrants. Any portion of this Warrant exercised by the Holder after the Mandatory Exercise Notice Date shall reduce the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is required to be exercised on the Mandatory Exercise Date. If the Company has elected a Mandatory Exercise, the mechanics of exercise set forth in Section 1 shall apply, to the extent applicable, as if the Company had received from the Holder on the Mandatory Exercise Date an Exercise Notice with respect to all of the then-remaining Warrant Shares (or the Permitted Exercise Amount of Warrant Shares, as applicable). Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 17 to the contrary (but subject to the last sentence of this Section 17), if (I) any shares of Common Stock trade for a price less than the Trigger Price on any day during the period commencing on the Mandatory Exercise Notice Date and ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Mandatory Exercise Date; (II) the average daily dollar trading volume (as reported on Bloomberg) of the Common Stock on the applicable Eligible Market on any Trading Day during the period commencing on the Mandatory Exercise Notice Date and ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Mandatory Exercise Date is less than $250,000; or (III) an Equity Conditions Failure occurs on any day during the period commencing on the Mandatory Exercise Notice Date and ending on the Mandatory Exercise Date which has not been waived in writing by the Holder, then, in either case, the Mandatory Exercise Notice delivered to the Holder shall be null and void ab initio and the Mandatory Exercise shall not occur. If the Company elects to cause a Mandatory Exercise of this Warrant pursuant to this Section 17, then it must simultaneously take the same action with respect to all of the other SPA Warrants. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 17 to the contrary, the Company may not exercise its right under this Section 17 for a period of twenty (20) Trading Days following the Effective Date.  By accepting this Warrant, the Holder hereby agrees, solely if the Holder has delivered a Blocker Notice to the Company and only after the consummation of the Mandatory Exercise with respect to such Blocker Notice, to use commercially reasonable efforts to take any action as determined in the sole discretion of the Holder to reduce the Holder’s beneficial ownership of Common Stock (excluding any Common Stock issuable upon exercise of any SPA Warrants or conversion of any Notes) as to permit an additional Mandatory Exercise hereunder no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) Trading Day after the Mandatory Exercise Date with respect to such Blocker Notice.
 
[ signature page follows ]
 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.
 
 
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
 
       
       
       
 
By:
   
    Name   
    Title   
       
 


 
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EXHIBIT A
 
EXERCISE NOTICE
TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS
WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
 
The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase _________________ of the shares of Common Stock (“ Warrant Shares ”) of Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), evidenced by Warrant to Purchase Common Stock No. _______ (the “ Warrant ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.
 
1.            Form of Exercise Price .  The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:
 
 
____________
a “ Cash Exercise ” with respect to _________________ Warrant Shares; and/or
 
 
____________
a “ Cashless Exercise ” with respect to _______________ Warrant Shares.
 
In the event that the Holder has elected a Cashless Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the Holder hereby represents and warrants that (i) this Exercise Notice was executed by the Holder at __________ [a.m.][p.m.] on the date set forth below and (ii) if applicable, the Bid Price as of such time of execution of this Exercise Notice was $________.
 
2.            Payment of Exercise Price . In the event that the Holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the Holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $___________________ to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.
 
3.            Delivery of Warrant Shares .  The Company shall deliver to Holder, or its designee or agent as specified below, __________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.  Delivery shall be made to Holder, or for its benefit, to the following address:
 
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
 
Date: _______________ __, ______
 


Name of Registered Holder
 
     
By:
 

 
  Name   
  Title   
     
 

 
 
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ACKNOWLEDGMENT
 
The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and hereby directs ______________ to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated September __, 2010, from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by _______________.
 
 
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
 
       
       
       
 
By:
 

 
    Name   
    Title   
       
 


 
 
 
 25


Exhibit 10.4
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
 
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of September 27, 2010, is by and among Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation with offices located at 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 2060, Sacramento, CA 95814 (the “ Company ”), and the undersigned buyers (each, a “ Buyer ,” and collectively, the “ Buyers ”).
 
RECITALS
 
A.           In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the parties hereto, dated as of September 27 , 2010 (the “ Securities Purchase Agreement ”), the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Securities Purchase Agreement, to issue and sell to each Buyer (i) senior secured convertible notes of the Company (the " Notes "), which will, among other things, be convertible into shares of the Company's common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the " Common Stock ", as converted, the " Conversion Shares ") in accordance with the terms of the Notes, and (ii) the Warrants (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) which will be exercisable to purchase Warrant Shares (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) in accordance with the terms of the Warrants.
 
B.           The Notes may be entitled to interest and certain other amounts, which, at the option of the Company and subject to certain conditions, may be paid in shares of Common Stock that have been registered for resale (the " Interest Shares ") or in cash.
 
C.           To induce the Buyers to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the “ 1933 Act ”), and applicable state securities laws.
 
AGREEMENT
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Buyers hereby agree as follows:
 
1.
Definitions
 
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 
(a)           “ Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
 
(b)           “ Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
 
(c)           “ Effective Date ” means the date that the applicable Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC.
 

 
 

 

(d)           “ Effectiveness Deadline ” means (i) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the earlier of the (A) 90 th calendar day after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement (or the 120 th calendar day after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement in the event that such Registration Statement is subject to a limited or full review by the SEC) and (B) 2 nd Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review and (ii) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the earlier of the (A) 90 th calendar day following the date on which the Company was required to file such additional Registration Statement (or the 120 th calendar day after such date in the event that such Registration Statement is subject to review by the SEC) and (B) 2 nd Business Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the SEC that such Registration Statement will not be reviewed or will not be subject to further review.
 
(e)           “ Filing Deadline ” means (i) with respect to the initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the 30 th calendar day after the date of the Securities Purchase Agreement and (ii) with respect to any additional Registration Statements that may be required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the date on which the Company was required to file such additional Registration Statement pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
 
(f)           “ Investor ” means a Buyer or any transferee or assig nee of any Registrable Securities, Notes or Warrants, as applicable, to whom a Buyer assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9 and any transferee or assignee thereof to whom a transferee or assignee of any Registrable Securities, Notes or Warrants, as applicable, assigns its rights under this Agreement and who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.
 
(g)           “ Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or any department or agency thereof.
 
(h)           “ register ,” “ registered ,” and “ registration ” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing one or more Registration Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 and the declaration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement(s) by the SEC.
 
(i)           “ Registrable Securities ” means (i) the Conversion Shares issued or issuable upon conversion of the Notes (including without limitation any Conversion Shares issued upon conversion of any Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Note)), (ii) any Interest Shares issued or issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes, (iii) the Warrant Shares and (iv) any capital stock of the Company issued or issuable with respect to the Conversion Shares, Interest Shares, the Warrant Shares the Notes or the Warrants, including, without limitation, (1) as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange or similar event or otherwise and (2) shares of capital stock of the Company into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged and shares of capital stock of a Successor Entity (as defined in the Warrants) into which the shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, in each case, without regard to any limitations on conversion of the Notes or issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Notes or exercise of the Warrants.
 

 
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(j)           “ Registration Statement ” means a registration statement or registration statements of the Company filed under the 1933 Act covering Registrable Securities.
 
(k)           “ Required Holders ” means the holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Securities (excluding any Registrable Securities held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).
 
(l)            “ Required Registration Amount ” means 150% of the sum of (i) the maximum number of Conversion Shares issued and issuable upon conversion of the Notes based on the Fixed Conversion Price (as defined in the Notes) calculated as of the Closing Date, (ii) the maximum number of Interest Shares issued and issuable pursuant to the terms of the Notes from the Closing Date through the fifteen month anniversary of the Closing Date and (iii) the maximum number of Warrant Shares issued and issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, in each case, as determined after the close of business of the Trading Day (as defined in the Warrants) immediately preceding the applicable date of determination (without taking into account any limitations on the conversion of the Notes or issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Notes or the exercise of the Warrants set forth therein), all subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2(d).
 
(m)          “ Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the 1933 Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration.
 
(n)           “ Rule 415 ” means Rule 415 promulgated by the SEC under the 1933 Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any other similar or successor rule or regulation of the SEC providing for offering securities on a continuous or delayed basis.
 
(o)           “ SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
 
2.
Registration .
 
(a)            Mandatory Registration .  The Company shall prepare and, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the Filing Deadline, file with the SEC an initial Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities, provided that such initial Registration Statement shall register for resale at least the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Required Registration Amount as of the date such Registration Statement is initially filed with the SEC, provided further that if Form S-3 is unavailable for such a registration, the Company shall use such other form as is required by Section 2(c). Such initial Registration Statement, and each other Registration Statement required to filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Required Holders) the “ Selling Stockholders ” and “ Plan of Distribution ” sections in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B . The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have such initial Registration Statement, and each other Registration Statement required to filed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement.
 

 
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(b)            Legal Counsel .  Subject to Section 5 hereof, Greenberg Traurig, LLP (“ Legal Counsel ”) shall review and oversee any registration pursuant to this Section 2.
 
(c)            Ineligibility to Use Form S-3 . In the event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Required Holders and (ii) undertake to register the resale of the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 as soon as such form is available, provided that the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of all Registration Statements then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the resale of all the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
 
(d)            Sufficient Number of Shares Registered . In the event the number of shares available under any Registration Statement is insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement or an Investor’s allocated portion of the Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 2(h), the Company shall amend such Registration Statement (if permissible), or file with the SEC a new Registration Statement (on the short form available therefor, if applicable), or both, so as to cover at least the Required Registration Amount as of the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the filing of such amendment or new Registration Statement, in each case, as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen (15) days after the necessity therefor arises (but taking account of any Staff position with respect to the date on which the Staff will permit such amendment to the Registration Statement and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to be filed with the SEC). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such amendment to such Registration Statement and/or such new Registration Statement (as the case may be) to become effective as soon as practicable following the filing thereof with the SEC, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement. For purposes of the foregoing provision, the number of shares available under a Registration Statement shall be deemed “insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities” if at any time the number of shares of Common Stock available for resale under the applicable Registration Statement is less than the product determined by multiplying (i) the Required Registration Amount as of such time by (ii) 0.90.  The calculation set forth in the foregoing sentence shall be made without regard to any limitations on (i) conversion of the Notes (and such calculation shall assume that the Notes are then fully convertible into shares of Common Stock at the then-prevailing applicable Conversion Price) or other issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Notes and (ii) exercise of the Warrants (and such calculation shall assume that the Warrants are then fully exercisable for shares of Common Stock at the then-prevailing applicable Exercise Price).
 

 
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(e)            Effect of Failure to File and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of any Registration Statement . If (i) a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered thereby and required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is (A) not filed with the SEC on or before the Filing Deadline for such Registration Statement (a “ Filing Failure ”) (it being understood that if the Company files a Registration Statement without affording each Investor the opportunity to review and comment on the same as required by Section 3(c) hereof, the Company shall be deemed to not have satisfied this clause (i)(A) and such event shall be deemed to be a Filing Failure) or (B) not declared effective by the SEC on or before the Effectiveness Deadline for such Registration Statement (an “ Effectiveness Failure ”) (it being understood that if on the Business Day immediately following the Effective Date for such Registration Statement the Company shall not have filed a “final” prospectus for such Registration Statement with the SEC under Rule 424(b) in accordance with Section 3(b) (whether or not such a prospectus is technically required by such rule), the Company shall be deemed to not have satisfied this clause (i)(B) and such event shall be deemed to be an Effectiveness Failure), (ii) other than during an Allowable Grace Period (as defined below), on any day after the Effective Date of a Registration Statement sales of all of the Registrable Securities required to be included on such Registration Statement (disregarding any reduction pursuant to Section 2(f)) cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement (including, without limitation, because of a failure to keep such Registration Statement effective, a failure to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be made pursuant to such Registration Statement, a suspension or delisting of (or a failure to timely list) the shares of Common Stock on the Principal Market (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), or a failure to register a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or by reason of a stop order) or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use for any reason (a “ Maintenance Failure ”), or (iii) if a Registration Statement is not effective for any reason or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use for any reason, the Company fails to file with the SEC any required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act such that it is not in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) (a “ Current Public Information Failure ”) as a result of which any of the Investors are unable to sell Registrable Securities without restriction under Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions), then, as partial relief for the damages to any holder by reason of any such delay in, or reduction of, its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity), the Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement an amount in cash equal to two percent of such Investor’s then outstanding principal amount of such Investor’s Note on the applicable dates set forth below (1) on the date of such Filing Failure, Effectiveness Failure, Maintenance Failure or Current Public Information Failure, as applicable, and (2) on every thirty (30) day anniversary of (I) a Filing Failure until such Filing Failure is cured; (II) an Effectiveness Failure until such Effectiveness Failure is cured; (III) a Maintenance Failure until such Maintenance Failure is cured; and (IV) a Current Public Information Failure until the earlier of (i) the date such Current Public Information Failure is cured and (ii) such time that such public information is no longer required pursuant to Rule 144 (in each case, pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty (30) days). The payments to which a holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 2(e) are referred to herein as “ Registration Delay Payments .”  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Registration Delay Payments pursuant to this Section 2(e) shall accrue with respect to the Company’s failure to include Cut-Back Shares (as defined below) in a Registration Statement until such time as the Company is able to effect the registration of some or all of the Cut-Back Shares in accordance with any SEC Restrictions (as defined below) (such time, the “Restriction Termination Date” ).  From and after the Restriction Termination Date, all of the provisions of this Section 2(e) with respect to the failure to register such Cut-Back Shares on a Registration Statement shall then apply to that portion of such Cut-Back Shares that are permitted by the SEC to be contained on the applicable additional Registration Statement; provided , however , that for such purposes the Filing Deadline shall be deemed to be the 30 th calendar day after the Restriction Termination Date.  Following the initial Registration Delay Payment for any particular event or failure (which shall be paid on the date of such event or failure, as set forth above), without limiting the foregoing, if an event or failure giving rise to the Registration Delay Payments is cured prior to any thirty (30) day anniversary of such event or failure, then such Registration Delay Payment shall be made on the third (3 rd ) Business Day after such cure. In the event the Company fails to make Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner in accordance with the foregoing, such Registration Delay Payments shall bear interest at the rate of two percent (2%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full.
 

 
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(f)            Offering . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in the event the staff of the SEC (the “ Staff ”) or the SEC seeks to characterize any offering pursuant to a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement as constituting an offering of securities by, or on behalf of, the Company, or in any other manner, such that the Staff or the SEC do not permit such Registration Statement to become effective and used for resales in a manner that does not constitute such an offering and that permits the continuous resale at the market by the Investors participating therein (or as otherwise may be acceptable to each Investor) without being named therein as an “underwriter,” then the Company shall remove from the Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the “Cut-Back Shares”) to be included in such Registration Statement by all Investors until such time as the Staff and the SEC shall so permit such Registration Statement to become effective as aforesaid. In making such reduction, the Company shall remove from the Registration Statement the number of Registrable Securities to be included by all Investors on a pro rata basis (based upon the number of Registrable Securities otherwise required to be included for each Investor)  with such reduction being applied first with respect to the Warrant Shares unless the inclusion of the Registrable Securities by a particular Investor or a particular set of Investors are resulting in the Staff or the SEC’s “by or on behalf of the Company” offering position, in which event the Registrable Securities held by such Investor or set of Investors shall be the only Registrable Securities subject to reduction (and if by a set of Investors on a pro rata basis by such Investors or on such other basis as would result in the exclusion of the least number of Registrable Securities by all such Investors).  In addition, in the event that the Staff or the SEC requires any Investor seeking to sell securities under a Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement to be specifically identified as an “underwriter” in order to permit such Registration Statement to become effective, and such Investor does not consent to being so named as an underwriter in such Registration Statement, then, in each such case, the Company shall reduce the total number of Registrable Securities to be registered on behalf of such Investor, until such time as the Staff or the SEC does not require such identification or until such Investor accepts such identification and the manner thereof. Any reduction pursuant to this paragraph will first reduce all Registrable Securities other than those issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. In the event of any reduction in Registrable Securities pursuant to this paragraph, an affected Investor shall have the right to require, upon delivery of a written request to the Company signed by such Investor, the Company to file a registration statement within thirty (30) days of such request (subject to any restrictions imposed by Rule 415 or required by the Staff or the SEC (the “SEC Restrictions” )) for resale by such Investor in a manner acceptable to such Investor, and the Company shall following such request cause to be and keep effective such registration statement in the same manner as otherwise contemplated in this Agreement for registration statements hereunder, in each case until such time as: (i) all Registrable Securities held by such Investor have been registered and sold pursuant to an effective Registration Statement in a manner acceptable to such Investor or (ii) all Registrable Securities may be resold by such Investor without restriction (including, without limitation, volume limitations) pursuant to Rule 144 (taking account of any Staff position with respect to “affiliate” status) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) or (iii) such Investor agrees to be named as an underwriter in any such Registration Statement in a manner acceptable to such Investor as to all Registrable Securities held by such Investor and that have not theretofore been included in a Registration Statement under this Agreement (it being understood that the special demand right under this sentence may be exercised by an Investor multiple times and with respect to limited amounts of Registrable Securities in order to permit the resale thereof by such Investor as contemplated above).
 

 
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(g)            Piggyback Registrations . Without limiting any obligation of the Company hereunder or under the Securities Purchase Agreement, if there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities (other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the 1933 Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with the Company’s stock option or other employee benefit plans), then the Company shall deliver to each Investor a written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen (15) days after the date of the delivery of such notice, any such Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Investor requests to be registered; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to register any Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2(g) that are eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 without restriction (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) or that are the subject of a then-effective Registration Statement.
 
(h)            Allocation of Registrable Securities . The initial number of Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement and any increase in the number of Registrable Securities included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors based on the number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time such Registration Statement covering such initial number of Registrable Securities or increase thereof is declared effective by the SEC. In the event that an Investor sells or otherwise transfers any of such Investor’s Registrable Securities, each transferee or assignee (as the case may be) that becomes an Investor shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the then-remaining number of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement for such transferor or assignee (as the case may be). Any shares of Common Stock included in a Registration Statement and which remain allocated to any Person which ceases to hold any Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors which are covered by such Registration Statement.
 
(i)            No Inclusion of Other Securities . In no event shall the Company include any securities other than Registrable Securities on any Registration Statement without the prior written consent of the Required Holders. Until the Applicable Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), the Company shall not enter into any agreement providing any registration rights to any of its security holders.
 

 
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3.
Related Obligations .
 
The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall have the following obligations:
 
(a)           The Company shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement with respect to all the Registrable Securities (but in no event later than the applicable Filing Deadline) and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing (but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline). Subject to Allowable Grace Periods, the Company shall keep each Registration Statement effective (and the prospectus contained therein available for use) pursuant to Rule 415 for resales by the Investors on a delayed or continuous basis at then-prevailing market prices (and not fixed prices) at all times until the earlier of (i) the date as of which all of the Investors may sell all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered by such Registration Statement (disregarding any reduction pursuant to Section 2(f)) without restriction pursuant to Rule 144 (including, without limitation, volume restrictions) and without the need for current public information required by Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) or (ii) the date on which the Investors shall have sold all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (the “ Registration Period ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall ensure that, when filed and at all times while effective, each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) and the prospectus (including, without limitation, all amendments and supplements thereto) used in connection with such Registration Statement (1) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of prospectuses, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made) not misleading and (2) will disclose (whether directly or through incorporation by reference to other SEC filings to the extent permitted) all material information regarding the Company and its securities required to be disclosed under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (as defined below). The Company shall submit to the SEC, within one (1) Business Day after the later of the date that (i) the Company learns that no review of a particular Registration Statement will be made by the Staff or that the Staff has no further comments on a particular Registration Statement (as the case may be) and (ii) the consent of Legal Counsel is obtained pursuant to Section 3(c) (which consent shall be immediately sought), a request for acceleration of effectiveness of such Registration Statement to a time and date not later than twenty-four (24) hours after the submission of such request.
 

 
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(b)           Subject to Section 3(r) of this Agreement, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to each Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection with each such Registration Statement, which prospectus is to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 promulgated under the 1933 Act, as may be necessary to keep each such Registration Statement effective at all times during the Registration Period for such Registration Statement, and, during such period, comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities of the Company required to be covered by such Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement; provided, however, by 8:30 a.m. (New York time) on the Business Day immediately following each Effective Date, the Company shall file with the SEC in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act the final prospectus to be used in connection with sales pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement (whether or not such a prospectus is technically required by such rule). In the case of amendments and supplements to any Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K or any analogous report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the SEC on the same day on which the 1934 Act report is filed which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement.
 
(c)           The Company shall (A) permit Legal Counsel and legal counsel for each other Investor to review and comment upon (i) each Registration Statement at least five (5) Business Days prior to its filing with the SEC and (ii) all amendments and supplements to each Registration Statement (including, without limitation, the prospectus contained therein) (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any similar or successor reports) within a reasonable number of days prior to their filing with the SEC, and (B) not file any Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which Legal Counsel or any legal counsel for any other Investor reasonably objects. The Company shall not submit a request for acceleration of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or to any prospectus contained therein without the prior consent of Legal Counsel, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall promptly furnish to Legal Counsel and legal counsel for each other Investor, without charge, (i) copies of any correspondence from the SEC or the Staff to the Company or its representatives relating to each Registration Statement, provided that such correspondence shall not contain any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), (ii) after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, one (1) copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, and all exhibits and (iii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, one (1) copy of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto. The Company shall reasonably cooperate with Legal Counsel and legal counsel for each other Investor in performing the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Section 3.
 

 
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(d)           The Company shall promptly furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement, without charge, (i) after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, at least one (1) copy of each Registration Statement and any amendment(s) and supplement(s) thereto, including, without limitation, financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein by reference, if requested by an Investor, all exhibits and each preliminary prospectus, (ii) upon the effectiveness of each Registration Statement, ten (10) copies of the prospectus included in such Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto (or such other number of copies as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time) and (iii) such other documents, including, without limitation, copies of any preliminary or final prospectus, as such Investor may reasonably request from time to time in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor.
 
(e)           The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to (i) register and qualify, unless an exemption from registration and qualification applies, the resale by Investors of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of all applicable jurisdictions in the United States, (ii) prepare and file in those jurisdictions, such amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) and supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv) take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (x) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(e), (y) subject itself to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, or (z) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. The Company shall promptly notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the registration or qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in the United States or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.
 
(f)           The Company shall notify Legal Counsel and each Investor in writing of the happening of any event, as promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, as a result of which the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided that in no event shall such notice contain any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), and, subject to Section 3(r), promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to such Registration Statement and such prospectus contained therein to correct such untrue statement or omission and deliver ten (10) copies of such supplement or amendment to Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor (or such other number of copies as Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor or such Investor may reasonably request). The Company shall also promptly notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor in writing (i) when a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed, when a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment has become effective (notification of such effectiveness shall be delivered to Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor by facsimile or e-mail on the same day of such effectiveness and by overnight mail), and when the Company receives written notice from the SEC that a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment will be reviewed by the SEC, (ii) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or related prospectus or related information, (iii) of the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate; and (iv) of the receipt of any request by the SEC or any other federal or state governmental authority for any additional information relating to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto or any related prospectus. The Company shall respond as promptly as practicable to any comments received from the SEC with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto.
 

 
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(g)           The Company shall (i) use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of each Registration Statement or the use of any prospectus contained therein, or the suspension of the qualification, or the loss of an exemption from qualification, of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction and, if such an order or suspension is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such order or suspension at the earliest possible moment and (ii) notify Legal Counsel, legal counsel for each other Investor and each Investor who holds Registrable Securities of the issuance of such order and the resolution thereof or its receipt of actual notice of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for such purpose.
 
(h)           If any Investor may be required under applicable securities law to be described in any Registration Statement as an underwriter and such Investor consents to so being named an underwriter, at the request of any Investor, the Company shall furnish to such Investor, on the date of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as an Investor may reasonably request (i) a letter, dated such date, from the Company’s independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors, and (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Company for purposes of such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily given in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the Investors.
 
(i)           If any Investor may be required under applicable securities law to be described in any Registration Statement as an underwriter and such Investor consents to so being named an underwriter, upon the written request of such Investor, the Company shall make available for inspection by (i) such Investor, (ii) legal counsel for such Investor and (iii) one (1) firm of accountants or other agents retained by such Investor (collectively, the “ Inspectors ”), all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the “ Records ”), as shall be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may reasonably request; provided, however, each Inspector shall agree in writing to hold in strict confidence and not to make any disclosure (except to such Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company’s board of directors determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (1) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (2) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (3) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement). Such Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between the Company and such Investor, if any) shall be deemed to limit any Investor’s ability to sell Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
 

 
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(j)           The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i) disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required to be disclosed in such Registration Statement pursuant to the 1933 Act, (iii) the release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other final, non-appealable order from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such information has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. The Company agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt written notice to such Investor and allow such Investor, at such Investor’s expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, such information.
 
(k)           Without limiting any obligation of the Company under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts either to (i) cause all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, (ii) secure designation and quotation of all of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement on an Eligible Market (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), or (iii) if, despite the Company’s reasonable best efforts to satisfy the preceding clauses (i) or (ii) the Company is unsuccessful in satisfying the preceding clauses (i) or (ii), without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to use its reasonable best efforts to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) as such with respect to such Registrable Securities. In addition, the Company shall cooperate with each Investor and any broker or dealer through which any such Investor proposes to sell its Registrable Securities in effecting a filing with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 as requested by such Investor. The Company shall pay all fees and expenses in connection with satisfying its obligations under this Section 3(k).
 
(l)           The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold Registrable Securities being offered and, to the extent applicable, facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (not bearing any restrictive legend) representing the Registrable Securities to be offered pursuant to a Registration Statement and enable such certificates to be in such denominations or amounts (as the case may be) as the Investors may reasonably request from time to time and registered in such names as the Investors may request.
 

 
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(m)           If requested by an Investor, the Company shall as soon as practicable after receipt of notice from such Investor and subject to Section 3(r) hereof, (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as an Investor reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment; and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement or prospectus contained therein if reasonably requested by an Investor holding any Registrable Securities.
 
(n)           The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities.
 
(o)           If any Investor may be required under applicable securities law to be described in any Registration Statement as an underwriter, the Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practical, but not later than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings statement (in form complying with, and in the manner provided by, the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the Company’s fiscal quarter next following the applicable Effective Date of each Registration Statement.
 
(p)           The Company shall otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC in connection with any registration hereunder.
 
(q)           Within one (1) Business Day after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is declared effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall cause legal counsel for the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A .
 

 
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(r)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein (but subject to the last sentence of this Section 3(r)), at any time after the Effective Date of a particular Registration Statement, the Company may (x) delay the disclosure of material, non-public information concerning the Company or any of its Subsidiaries the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the board of directors of the Company, in the best interest of the Company and, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, otherwise required and (y) file supplements and/or amendments to the Registration Statement to incorporate filings under the 1934 Act into the Registration Statement in order to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (each, a “ Grace Period ”), provided that (i) the Company shall promptly notify the Investors in writing of the (a) existence of material, non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that in each such notice the Company shall not disclose the content of such material, non-public information to any of the Investors) of the type described in clause (x) above and the date on which such Grace Period will begin and (b) date on which such Grace Period ends, (ii) no Grace Period of the type described in clause (x) above shall exceed ten (10) consecutive days and during any three hundred sixty five (365) day period all such Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of thirty (30) days, (iii) no Grace Period of the type described in clause (y) above shall exceed twenty (20) consecutive days and during any three hundred sixty-five day period all such Grace Periods shall not exceed forty-five (45) days, (iv) the first day of any Grace Period must be at least five (5) Trading Days after the last day of any prior Grace Period and (v) a Grace Period of no more than two (2) consecutive Trading Days (and no more than five (5) Trading Days in the aggregate) may exist during the sixty (60) Trading Day period immediately following the Effective Date of such Registration Statement (provided that such sixty (60) Trading Day period shall be extended by the number of Trading Days during such period and any extension thereof contemplated by this proviso during which such Registration Statement is not effective or the prospectus contained therein is not available for use) (each, an “ Allowable Grace Period ”). For purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period, such Grace Period shall begin on and include the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (a) above and shall end on and include the later of the date the Investors receive the notice referred to in clause (b) above and the date referred to in such notice. The provisions of Section 3(g) hereof shall not be applicable during the period of any Allowable Grace Period. Upon expiration of each Grace Period, the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto unless such material, non-public information is no longer applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3(r), the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which such Investor has entered into a contract for sale, and delivered a copy of the prospectus included as part of the particular Registration Statement to the extent applicable, prior to such Investor’s receipt of the notice of a Grace Period and for which the Investor has not yet settled.
 

 
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(s)           Once the Company is eligible to use Form S-3, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain eligibility for use of Form S-3 (or any successor form thereto) for the registration of the resale of all the Registrable Securities.
 
(t)           The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate disposition by each Investors of its Registrable Securities pursuant to each Registration Statement.
 
4.
Obligations of the Investors .
 
(a)           At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of each Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor in writing of the information the Company requires from each such Investor with respect to such Registration Statement. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect and maintain the effectiveness of the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request.
 
(b)           Each Investor, by such Investor’s acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of each Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of such Investor’s election to exclude all of such Investor’s Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
 
(c)           Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of 3(f), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement(s) covering such Registrable Securities until such Investor’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) or receipt of notice that no supplement or amendment is required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4(c), the Company shall cause its transfer agent to deliver unlegended shares of Common Stock to a transferee of an Investor in accordance with the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which such Investor has entered into a contract for sale prior to the Investor’s receipt of a notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(g) or the first sentence of Section 3(f) and for which such Investor has not yet settled.
 
(d)           Each Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
 
5.
Expenses of Registration .
 
All reasonable expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualifications fees, printers and accounting fees, FINRA filing fees (if any) and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company shall be paid by the Company. The Company shall also reimburse Legal Counsel for its fees and disbursements in connection with registration, filing or qualification pursuant to Sections 2 and 3 of this Agreement which amount shall be limited to $15,000.
 

 
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6.
Indemnification .
 
(a)           In the event any Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement under this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company will, and hereby does, indemnify, hold harmless and defend each Investor and each of its directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) and each Person, if any, who controls such Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act and each of the directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents, advisors, representatives (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding the lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling Persons (each, an “ Indemnified Person ”), against any losses, obligations, claims, damages, liabilities, contingencies, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs (including, without limitation, court costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of defense and investigation), amounts paid in settlement or expenses, joint or several, (collectively, “ Claims ”) incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim, suit, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or appeal taken from the foregoing by or before any court or governmental, administrative or other regulatory agency, body or the SEC, whether pending or threatened, whether or not an indemnified party is or may be a party thereto (“ Indemnified Damages ”), to which any of them may become subject insofar as such Claims (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in any filing made in connection with the qualification of the offering under the securities or other “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in which Registrable Securities are offered (“ Blue Sky Filing ”), or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the statements therein were made, not misleading or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law, including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being, collectively, “ Violations ”). Subject to Section 6(c), the Company shall reimburse the Indemnified Persons, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and payable, for any legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim by an Indemnified Person arising out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnified Person for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with the preparation of such Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto and (ii) shall not be available to a particular Investor to the extent such Claim is based on a failure of such Investor to deliver or to cause to be delivered the prospectus made available by the Company (to the extent applicable), including, without limitation, a corrected prospectus, if such prospectus or corrected prospectus was timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(d) and then only if, and to the extent that, following the receipt of the corrected prospectus no grounds for such Claim would have existed; and (iii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by any of the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
 

 
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(b)           In connection with any Registration Statement in which an Investor is participating, such Investor agrees to severally and not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 6(a), the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), against any Claim or Indemnified Damages to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claim or Indemnified Damages arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case, to the extent, and only to the extent, that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with such Registration Statement; and, subject to Section 6(c) and the below provisos in this Section 6(b), such Investor will reimburse an Indemnified Party any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 6(b) and the agreement with respect to contribution contained in Section 7 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided further that such Investor shall be liable under this Section 6(b) for only that amount of a Claim or Indemnified Damages as does not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the applicable sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of any of the Registrable Securities by any of the Investors pursuant to Section 9.
 
(c)           Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including, without limitation, any governmental action or proceeding) involving a Claim, such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party (as the case may be); provided, however, an Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the fees and expenses of such counsel to be paid by the indemnifying party if: (i) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Claim and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) in any such Claim; or (iii) the named parties to any such Claim (including, without limitation, any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) and the indemnifying party, and such Indemnified Person or such Indemnified Party (as the case may be) shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Person or such Indemnified Party and the indemnifying party (in which case, if such Indemnified Person or such Indemnified Party (as the case may be) notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, then the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and such counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, provided further that in the case of clause (iii) above the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one (1) separate legal counsel for such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be). The Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) shall reasonably cooperate with the indemnifying party in connection with any negotiation or defense of any such action or Claim by the indemnifying party and shall furnish to the indemnifying party all information reasonably available to the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) which relates to such action or Claim. The indemnifying party shall keep the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) reasonably apprised at all times as to the status of the defense or any settlement negotiations with respect thereto. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any action, claim or proceeding effected without its prior written consent; provided, however, the indemnifying party shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be), consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or other compromise which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) of a release from all liability in respect to such Claim or litigation, and such settlement shall not include any admission as to fault on the part of the Indemnified Party. Following indemnification as provided for hereunder, the indemnifying party shall be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person (as the case may be) with respect to all third parties, firms or corporations relating to the matter for which indemnification has been made. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party (as the case may be) under this Section 6, except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially and adversely prejudiced in its ability to defend such action.
 

 
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(d)           No Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities who is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to indemnification from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who is not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation.
 
(e)           The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or Indemnified Damages are incurred.
 
(f)           The indemnity and contribution agreements contained herein shall be in addition to (i) any cause of action or similar right of the Indemnified Party or Indemnified Person against the indemnifying party or others, and (ii) any liabilities the indemnifying party may be subject to pursuant to the law.
 
7.
Contribution .
 
To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however: (i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement, (ii) no Person involved in the sale of Registrable Securities which Person is guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) in connection with such sale shall be entitled to contribution from any Person involved in such sale of Registrable Securities who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation; and (iii) contribution by any seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the amount of net proceeds received by such seller from the applicable sale of such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Investor shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Investor from the applicable sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Claim exceeds the amount of any damages that such Investor has otherwise been required to pay, or would otherwise be required to pay under Section 6(b), by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
 

 
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8.
Reports Under the 1934 Act
 
With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144, the Company agrees to:
 
(a)           make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144;
 
(b)           file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood and agreed that nothing herein shall limit any obligations of the Company under the Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and
 
(c)           furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, (i) a written statement by the Company, if true, that it has complied with the reporting, submission and posting requirements of Rule 144 and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by the Company with the SEC if such reports are not publicly available via EDGAR, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without registration.
 
9.
Assignment of Registration Rights
 
All or any portion of the rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by each Investor to any transferee or assignee (as the case may be) of all or any portion of such Investor’s Registrable Securities, Notes or Warrants if: (i) such Investor agrees in writing with such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) to assign all or any portion of such rights, and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment (as the case may be); (ii) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment (as the case may be), furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or assignee (as the case may be), and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned (as the case may be); (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) the further disposition of such securities by such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) is restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws if so required; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence such transferee or assignee (as the case may be) agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein; (v) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Notes and the Warrants (as the case may be); and (vi) such transfer or assignment (as the case may be) shall have been conducted in accordance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.
 

 
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10.
Amendment of Registration Rights .
 
Provisions of this Agreement may be amended only with the written consent of the Company and the Required Holders. Any amendment effected in accordance with this Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company, provided that no such amendment shall be effective to the extent that it (1) applies to less than all of the holders of the holders of Registrable Securities, (2) imposes any obligation or liability on any Investor without such Investor’s prior written consent (which may be granted or withheld in such Investor’s sole discretion) or (3) applies retroactively.  No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.
 
11.
Miscellaneous .
 
(a)           Solely for purposes of this Agreement, a Person is deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person owns, or is deemed to own, of record such Registrable Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or elections from two or more Persons with respect to the same Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions, notice or election received from such record owner of such Registrable Securities.
 
(b)           Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (i) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (ii) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); (iii) with respect to Section 3(c), by electronic mail (provided confirmation of transmission is electronically generated and kept on file by the sending party); or (iv) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight delivery service with next day delivery specified, in each case, properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
 
If to the Company:
 
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 2060
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone:  (916) 403-2123
Facsimile:  (916) 403-3937
Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

With a copy (for informational purposes only) to:
 
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 2060
Sacramento, CA 95814
Telephone:  (916) 403-2130
Facsimile:  (916) 403-3936
Attention:  General Counsel


 
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Rutan & Tucker, LLP
611 Anton Blvd., 14 th Floor
Costa Mesa, CA  92626
Telephone:  (714) 641-5100
Facsimile:  (714) 546-9035
Attention:  Larry A. Cerutti, Esq.
 
If to the Transfer Agent:
 
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
6201 15 th Avenue, 2 nd Floor
Brooklyn, New York  11219
Telephone:  (718) 921-8360
Facsimile:  (718) 921-8310
Attention:  Marianela Patterson

 
If to Legal Counsel:
 
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
MetLife Building
200 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10166
Telephone:  (212) 801-9200
Facsimile:  (212) 805-9222
Attention:  Michael A. Adelstein, Esq.
 
If to a Buyer, to its address and facsimile number set forth on the Schedule of Buyers attached to the Securities Purchase Agreement, with copies to such Buyer’s representatives as set forth on the Schedule of Buyers, or to such other address and/or facsimile number and/or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party has specified by written notice given to each other party five (5) days prior to the effectiveness of such change, provided that Greenberg Traurig, LLP shall only be provided notices sent to the lead Buyer. Written confirmation of receipt (A) given by the recipient of such notice, consent, waiver or other communication, (B) mechanically or electronically generated by the sender’s facsimile machine or electronic mail transmission containing the time, date, recipient facsimile number or electronic mail address and an image of the first page of such transmission or (C) provided by a courier or overnight courier service shall be rebuttable evidence of personal service, receipt by facsimile or receipt from a nationally recognized overnight delivery service in accordance with clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, respectively.
 

 
21

 

(c)           Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy, shall not operate as a waiver thereof. The Company and each Investor acknowledge and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that each party hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this Agreement by any other party hereto and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof (without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required), this being in addition to any other remedy to which any party may be entitled by law or equity.
 
(d)           All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the address for such notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in that jurisdiction or the validity or enforceability of any provision of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
 
(e)           This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereto and thereto solely with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto and thereto and the instruments referenced herein and therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the parties hereto solely with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof; provided, however, nothing contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document shall (or shall be deemed to) (i) have any effect on any agreements any Investor has entered into with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the date hereof with respect to any prior investment made by such Investor in the Company, (ii) waive, alter, modify or amend in any respect any obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any rights of or benefits to any Investor or any other Person in any agreement entered into prior to the date hereof between or among the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and any Investor and all such agreements shall continue in full force and effect or (iii) limit any obligations of the Company under any of the other Transaction Documents.
 

 
22

 

(f)           Subject to compliance with Section 9 (if applicable), this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and assigns of each of the parties hereto. This Agreement is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any Person, other than the parties hereto, their respective permitted successors and assigns and the Persons referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof.
 
(g)           The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof” and words of like import refer to this entire Agreement instead of just the provision in which they are found.
 
(h)           This Agreement may be executed in two or more identical counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by an e-mail which contains a portable document format (.pdf) file of an executed signature page, such signature page shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such signature page were an original thereof.
 
(i)           Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as any other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
 
(j)           The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 10, terms used in this Agreement but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Closing Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by each Investor.
 
(k)           All consents and other determinations required to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be made, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, by the Required Holders.
 

 
23

 
 

 
(l)           The obligations of each Investor under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no Investor shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Investor under this Agreement or any other Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as, and the Company acknowledges that the Investors do not so constitute, a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of group or entity, or create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group or entity with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or any matters, and the Company acknowledges that the Investors are not acting in concert or as a group, and the Company shall not assert any such claim, with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other the Transaction Documents. Each Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of any other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. The use of a single agreement with respect to the obligations of the Company contained herein was solely in the control of the Company, not the action or decision of any Investor, and was done solely for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Investor. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement and in each other Transaction Document is between the Company and an Investor, solely, and not between the Company and the Investors collectively and not between and among Investors.
 
 
[ signature pages follow ]
 
 
 
 
 

 
24

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
COMPANY:
 
       
 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC.
 
       
       
       
 
By:
 

 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       


 
 

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
BUYERS:
 
       
 
HUDSON BAY MASTER FUND LTD.
 
       
       
       
 
By:
 

 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       

 

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
J.P. MORGAN OMNI SPC, LTD. - BIOV1 SEGREGATED PORTFOLIO
 
By: Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, its investment advisor
       
       
       
 
By:
 

 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
CAPITAL VENTURES INTERNATIONAL
 
       
       
       
 
By:
 

 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
LIBERTY HARBOR MASTER FUND I, L.P.
 
       
       
       
 
By:
 

 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
LIBERTY HARBOR DISTRESSED CREDIT AGGREGATOR I, L.P.
       
       
       
 
By:
 

 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       
 
 
 

 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
GOLDMAN SACHS TC MASTER PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
       
       
       
 
By:
 

 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       


 
 
 
 

 
 

 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each Buyer and the Company have caused their respective signature page to this Registration Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
 
 
 
IROQUOIS MASTER FUND LTD.
       
       
       
 
By:
 
 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       

 
 
 
 

 


EXHIBIT A
 
FORM OF NOTICE OF EFFECTIVENESS
OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
______________________
 
______________________
 
______________________
 
Attention:  _____________
 
Re:           Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
[We are][I am] counsel to Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation corporation (the “ Company ”), and have represented the Company in connection with that certain Securities Purchase Agreement (the “ Securities Purchase Agreement ”) entered into by and among the Company and the buyers named therein (collectively, the “ Holders ”) pursuant to which the Company issued to the Holders certain senior secured convertible notes (the “ Notes ”) convertible into the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”), and warrants exercisable for shares of Common Stock (the “ Warrants ”). Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company also has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Holders (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”) pursuant to which the Company agreed, among other things, to register the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement), including the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes and otherwise pursuant to the terms of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ 1933 Act ”). In connection with the Company’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, on ____________ ___, 20__, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-_____________) (the “ Registration Statement ”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) relating to the Registrable Securities which names each of the Holders as a selling stockholder thereunder.
 
In connection with the foregoing, [we][I] advise you that a member of the SEC’s staff has advised [us][me] by telephone that the SEC has entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under the 1933 Act at [ENTER TIME OF EFFECTIVENESS] on [ENTER DATE OF EFFECTIVENESS] and [we][I] have no knowledge, after telephonic inquiry of a member of the SEC’s staff, that any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for that purpose are pending before, or threatened by, the SEC and the Registrable Securities are available for resale under the 1933 Act pursuant to the Registration Statement.
 
This letter shall serve as our standing opinion to you that the shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes and Warrants are freely transferable by the Holders pursuant to the Registration Statement. You need not require further letters from us to effect any future legend-free issuance or reissuance of such shares of Common Stock to the Holders as contemplated by the Company’s Irrevocable Transfer Agent Instructions dated _________ __, 20__.
 
 
Very truly yours,
 
[ISSUER’S COUNSEL]
 
By:_____________________

 
CC:           [ LIST NAMES OF HOLDERS ]
 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT B

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
 
The shares of common stock being offered by the selling stockholders are those issuable to the selling stockholders upon conversion of the notes and otherwise pursuant to the terms of the notes with respect to the notes and exercise of the warrants. For additional information regarding the issuance of the notes and the warrants, see “Private Placement of Notes and Warrants” above. We are registering the shares of common stock in order to permit the selling stockholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the notes and the warrants issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the selling stockholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years.
 
The table below lists the selling stockholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership (as determined under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder) of the shares of common stock held by each of the selling stockholders. The second column lists the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the selling stockholders, based on their respective ownership of shares of common stock, notes and warrants, as of ________, 201_, assuming conversion of the notes and exercise of the warrants held by each such selling stockholder on that date but taking account of any limitations on conversion and issuance of common stock and exercise set forth therein.
 
The third column lists the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus by the selling stockholders and does not take in account any limitations on (i) conversion of the notes or issuance of common stock set forth therein or (ii) exercise of the warrants set forth therein.
 
In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement with the holders of the notes and the warrants, this prospectus generally covers the resale of 150% of the sum of (i) the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes, (ii) the maximum number of other shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the notes and (ii) the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, in each case, determined as if the outstanding notes and warrants were converted or exercised (as the case may be) in full (without regard to any limitations on conversion, issuance of common stock or exercise contained therein) as of the trading day immediately preceding the date this registration statement was initially filed with the SEC. Because the conversion price of the notes and the exercise price of the warrants may be adjusted, the number of shares that will actually be issued may be more or less than the number of shares being offered by this prospectus. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares offered by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus.
 
Under the terms of the notes and the warrants, a selling stockholder may not convert the notes or exercise the warrants to the extent (but only to the extent) such selling stockholder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own a number of shares of our common stock which would exceed 4.99%. The number of shares in the second column reflects these limitations. The selling stockholders may sell all, some or none of their shares in this offering.  See “Plan of Distribution.”
 

 
 

 

 
 
Name of Selling Stockholder
Number of Shares of Common Stock Owned Prior to Offering
 
Maximum Number of  Shares of Common Stock to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus
 
Number of  Shares of Common Stock of Owned After Offering
Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd.(1)
 
         
J.P. Morgan Omni SPC, Ltd. - BIOV1 Segregated Portfolio (2)
 
         
Capital Ventures International (3)
 
         
Liberty Harbor Master Fund I, L.P. (4)
 
         
Liberty Harbor Distressed Credit Aggregator I, L.P.(5)
 
         
Goldman Sachs TC Master Partnership, L.P. (6)
 
         
Iroquois Master Fund Ltd. (7)
         

(1)  Hudson Bay Capital Management LP, the investment manager of Hudson Bay Master Fund Ltd., has voting and investment power over these securities.  Sander Gerber is the managing member of Hudson Bay Capital GP LLC, which is the general partner of  Hudson Bay Capital Management LP.   Sander Gerber disclaims beneficial ownership over these securities.

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)
 
(7)
 
 
 
 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
We are registering the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes and otherwise pursuant to the terms of the notes and exercise of the warrants to permit the resale of these shares of common stock by the holders of the notes and warrants from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling stockholders of the shares of common stock.  We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the shares of common stock.
 
The selling stockholders may sell all or a portion of the shares of common stock held by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the shares of common stock are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling stockholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The shares of common stock may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions, pursuant to one or more of the following methods:
 
 
·
on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;
 
 
·
in the over-the-counter market;
 
 
·
in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;
 
 
·
through the writing or settlement of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;
 
 
·
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
 
 
·
block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
 
 
·
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
 
 
·
an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;
 
 
·
privately negotiated transactions;
 
 
·
short sales made after the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC;
 
 
·
broker-dealers may agree with the selling securityholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
 

 
 

 

 
·
a combination of any such methods of sale; and
 
 
·
any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
 
The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, if available, rather than under this prospectus. In addition, the selling stockholders may transfer the shares of common stock by other means not described in this prospectus. If the selling stockholders effect such transactions by selling shares of common stock to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or commissions from purchasers of the shares of common stock for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the shares of common stock or otherwise, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of common stock short and deliver shares of common stock covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling stockholders may also loan or pledge shares of common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
 
The selling stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the notes, warrants or shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending, if necessary, the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate the shares of common stock in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
 
To the extent required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, the selling stockholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the shares of common stock is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed, which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of common stock being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling stockholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to broker-dealers.
 

 
 

 

Under the securities laws of some states, the shares of common stock may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the shares of common stock may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
 
There can be no assurance that any selling stockholder will sell any or all of the shares of common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.
 
The selling stockholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of common stock by the selling stockholders and any other participating person. To the extent applicable, Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the shares of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares of common stock.
 
We will pay all expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock pursuant to the registration rights agreement, estimated to be $[     ] in total, including, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided, however, a selling stockholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act in accordance with the registration rights agreements or the selling stockholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling stockholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling stockholder specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreements or we may be entitled to contribution.

Once sold under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the shares of common stock will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.
 
 
 
 
 



Exhibit 10.5
 
AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE OF
UNITS IN NEW PE HOLDCO LLC

 
THIS AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE OF UNITS IN NEW PE HOLDCO LLC , (“ Agreement ”) dated as of September 27, 2010, is made by and among CS Candlewood Special Situations Fund, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ( “Seller” ) and Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Buyer ”).  Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement, capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Exhibit A .
 
W I T N E S S E T H
 
WHEREAS, New PE Holdco LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company” ), issued certain limited liability company interests denominated as “ Units ” pursuant to the LLC Agreement (as defined below) to Seller in connection with the consummation of that certain Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization Under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, dated April 16, 2010, filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware by the predecessors in interest to the Company’s direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries;
 
WHEREAS, in connection with the issuance of the Units, the Company and Seller, among others, have executed that certain Limited Liability Company Agreement of New PE Holdco LLC (the “ LLC Agreement ”); and
 
WHEREAS, Seller desires to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase from Seller, Eighty (80) Units (the “Seller Units” ) on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and mutual covenants and based upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:
 
1.       Purchase and Sale of Seller Units .
 
(a)   Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Buyer agrees to purchase, and Seller agrees to sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to Buyer, the Seller Units, free and clear of all Encumbrances, on the Closing Date (the “ Transaction ”).
 
(b)   As consideration for the sale of the Seller Units to Buyer at the Closing, Buyer shall pay to Seller, in cash, a total of eight million eight hundred eighty thousand dollars ($8,880,000.00) (the “Cash Consideration” ) by wire transfer to the account designated by Seller in Section 5(b) hereinbelow.
 
(c)   The closing of the sale of the Seller Units to Buyer (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at 10:00 a.m. New York time as soon as the condition set forth in Section 6 is satisfied, but in no event later than October 22, 2010 (the “Closing Date” ) or such other time as may be mutually agreed by the parties hereto.
 

 
 

 

2.       Seller Representations .   Seller represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:
 
(a)   Organization.   Seller is a limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Seller is in good standing and qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in any state in which it is doing business.
 
(b)   Due Authorization; Enforceability.   The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by Seller.  Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by Buyer, this Agreement and the unit transfer certificate and takedown certificate provided for in Section 4 (collectively,  the “Transaction Documents” ) constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with their respective terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws and equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally).
 
(c)   Non-Contravention; Consents. Other than any communication required by Section 9 of the LLC Agreement (including notice to the Company pursuant to Section 9.6),   Seller need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order to consummate the Transaction.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the Transaction, will directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):  (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Charter Documents of Seller; (ii) conflict with or violate any statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which Seller is subject; (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument or other arrangement to which Seller is a party or by which either is bound; or (iv) result in the imposition or creation of an Encumbrance upon the Seller Units.
 
(d)   Ownership of Seller Units.   Seller is the unconditional and sole legal, beneficial, record and equitable owner of the Seller Units, and Seller has full power and authority to sell and transfer Seller Units, free and clear of any restrictions on transfer or any other Encumbrances.  Seller is not a party to any voting trust, proxy, or other agreement or understanding with respect to the voting of any Seller Units.
 
(e)   Distributions.   Seller has no current outstanding obligation to return to the Company all or any portion of any distribution previously received from the Company in respect of the Seller Units.
 
(f)   LLC Agreement.   The LLC Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws and equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally).
 

.
 
2

 

(g)   LLC Agreement.   To Seller’s knowledge, Seller is subject to no restrictions on its ability to transfer the Seller Units to Buyer other than the provisions of Section 9 of the LLC Agreement.
 
(h)   Brokers.   Seller has not agreed or become obligated to pay, or has taken any action that might result in any person, entity or governmental body claiming to be entitled to receive, any brokerage commission, finder’s fee or similar commission or fee in connection with the Transaction.
 
3.       Buyer Representations .   Buyer represents and warrants to Seller as follows:
 
(a)   Organization.   Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Seller is in good standing and qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in any state in which it is doing business.
 
(b)   Due Authorization; Enforceability.   The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by Buyer.  Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by Buyer, this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents hereto constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with their respective terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws and equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally).
 
(c)   Non-Contravention; Consents. Buyer need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order to consummate the Transaction.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the Transaction, will directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):  (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Charter Documents of Seller; (ii) conflict with or violate any statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which Buyer is subject; or (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument or other arrangement to which Buyer is a party or by which it is bound.
 
(d)   Investment Intent.   Buyer   is acquiring the Seller Units for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof, in whole or in part.
 
4.       Closing Deliverables by Seller .  At the Closing, Seller shall deliver the following to Buyer:
 
(a)            a unit transfer certificate in the form annexed as Exhibit B hereto following Seller’s receipt of a Federal Reference Number evidencing Buyer’s wire transfer as set forth in Section 5(b) below; and
 

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(b)            a certificate from Seller certifying that (i) each of the representations and warranties made by Seller in this Agreement is true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and the date of the Closing and (ii) each of the covenants and agreement that Seller is required to have complied with or performed pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing has been duly complied with and performed in all respects;
 
(c)            such other documents or instruments of transfer as Buyer reasonably may request to effect the Transaction.
 
5.       Closing Deliverables by Buyer .  At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver the following to Buyer:
 
(a)            a certificate from Buyer certifying that (i) each of the representations and warranties made by Buyer in this Agreement is true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the date of the Closing and (ii) each of the covenants and agreement that Buyer is required to have complied with or performed pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing has been duly complied with and performed in all respects; and
 
(b)            the Cash Consideration by wire transfer to Seller at the following account
 
USD PAYMENTS
Bank: JPMorgan Chase Bank
ABA # 021000021
Account Name:  J.P. Morgan Clearing Corp.
A/C # 066001633 JPMCC
FFC - Candlewood Special Situations Fund L.P.
Account #: Acct # 102-37982

 
6.       Closing Condition .  The obligation of Buyer to Close the Transaction is expressly conditioned upon Buyer first having exercised any portion of the Call Option and become a Member pursuant to the Call Option Agreement.
 
7.       Survival of Representations and Covenants .
 
(a)            The covenants and agreements of each Party shall survive the Closing for the periods specified in such covenants and agreements, or if no period is specified, until the fourth anniversary of the Closing.  The representations and warranties of each Party shall survive until the fourth anniversary of the Closing.
 
(b)            The representations, warranties, covenants and obligations of Seller and the rights and remedies that may be exercised by any Indemnified Party shall not be limited or otherwise affected by or as a result of any information furnished to, or any investigation made by or any knowledge of, any of the Indemnified Parties or any of their Representatives.
 

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8.       Indemnification by Seller .  Seller shall hold harmless and indemnify each of the Indemnified Parties from and against, and shall compensate and reimburse each of the Indemnified Parties for, any Losses that are directly or indirectly suffered or incurred by any of the Indemnified Parties or to which any of the Indemnified Parties may otherwise become subject at any time (regardless of whether or not such Losses relate to any third-party claim) and that arise directly or indirectly from or as a direct or indirect result of, or are directly or indirectly connected with:
 
(a)            any material breach by Seller or of any material representation or warranty of Seller contained in this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or in any certificate delivered by pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document; and
 
(b)             any breach of any covenant or agreement of Seller contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.
 
9.       Additional Agreements .
 
(a)   Further Assurances .  Each Party agrees to execute and deliver such further documents and instruments and to take such further actions after the Closing as may be necessary or desirable and reasonably requested by the other Party to give effect to the Transaction.
 
(b)   Expenses.   Each Party shall bear and pay all fees, costs and expenses that have been incurred or that are in the future incurred by, on behalf of, such Party in connection with the negotiation, preparation and review of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and all certificates and other instruments and documents delivered or to be delivered in connection with the Transaction, and the consummation and performance of the Transaction. shall responsible.
 
10.      Miscellaneous .
 
(a)   Notices .  All notices, demands and other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when personally delivered, when mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, when sent by facsimile with confirmation of receipt received, or when delivered by overnight courier with executed receipt.  Notices, demands and communications to Seller or Buyer shall, unless another address is specified in writing in accordance herewith, be sent to the address indicated below:
 
Notices to Seller*:
Candlewood Special Situations Fund L.P.
 
Attn: David Koenig
 
777 Third Ave. – Suite 19B
 
New York, NY 10017
 
Tel:  212 493 4466
 
Fax:  212 493 4467
 

 
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Notices to Buyer:                     Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 2060
Sacramento, CA  95814
Attn: General Counsel
Tel: (916) 403-2130
Fax: (916) 446-3936
 
with copies to:                          Rutan & Tucker, LLP
611 Anton Boulevard
Suite 1400
Costa Mesa, CA  92626-1931
Attn: Larry Cerutti, Esq.
Tel: (714) 641-3450
Fax: (714) 546-9035

 
(b)   Amendment .  No change in or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Seller and Buyer.
 
(c)   Waiver .  No failure or delay on the part of the parties or any of them in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder, nor any course of dealing between the parties or any of them shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or privilege nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other right, power or privilege.  The rights and remedies herein expressly provided are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies which the parties or any of them would otherwise have.
 
(d)   Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all of the parties hereto had signed the same document.  All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one agreement.  This Agreement and any amendments hereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or electronic transmission (including a PDF file), shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original Agreement and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person.  No party hereto shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic transmission to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine or electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense.
 
(e)   GOVERNING LAW .  THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE SHALL GOVERN THE VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE CONSTRUCTION OF ITS TERMS, AND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES ARISING HEREUNDER, WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS.
 
 
 

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(f) Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial and Venue.
 
(1)            SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.
 
(2)            WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL AND VENUE .  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, (i) ANY AND ALL RIGHTS SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A JURY TRIAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR AND (ii) ANY OBJECTION THAT SUCH PARTY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
 
(3)            Service of Process .  Each party hereto agrees that service of process may be effectuated by mailing a copy of the summons and complaint, or other pleading, by certified mail, return receipt requested, in accordance with Section 10(a) .
 
(g)   Benefit and Binding Effect .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no right under this Agreement shall be assignable and any attempted assignment in violation of this provision shall be void.  Every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective executors, administrators, heirs, successors, transferees, and assigns.  It is understood and agreed among the parties that this Agreement and the covenants made herein are made expressly and solely for the benefit of the parties hereto, and that no other Person, other than as expressly set forth in this, shall be entitled or be deemed to be entitled to any benefits or rights hereunder, nor be authorized or entitled to enforce any rights, claims or remedies hereunder or by reason hereof.
 

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(h)   Severability .  Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited, unenforceable or not authorized in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition, unenforceability or nonauthorization without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity, enforceability or legality of such provision in any other jurisdiction.  The parties hereto agree to negotiate in good faith to replace any illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a legal, valid and enforceable provision that, to the extent possible, will preserve the economic bargain of this Agreement.  If any time period set forth herein is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, a different time period that is determined by the court to be more reasonable shall replace the unenforceable time period.
 
(i)   Headings; Construction .  Section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define, or limit the scope, extent, or intent of this Agreement or any provision hereof.  Every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any party.  Every schedule and other addendum attached to this Agreement and referred to herein is incorporated in this Agreement by reference unless this Agreement expressly otherwise provides.  All terms and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the Person or Persons may require.
 
(j)   Entire Agreement .  This Agreement contains the entire understanding and agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and all contemporaneous oral agreements.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement for Purchase And Sale of Units in New PE Holdco LLC as of the day and year first above written.
 
 
Buyer
 
     
 
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
 
     
     
       
 
By:
/s/ Neil M. Koehler
 
    Name: Neil M. Koehler      
    Title:   Chief Executive Officer  
       
 
 
 
Seller
 
     
 
Credit Suisse Candlewood Special Situations Fund L.P.
     
     
       
 
By:
/s/ David Koenig

 
    Name: David Koenig  
    Title:  Authorized Signatory  
       


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8

 

Exhibit A
 
Definitions
 
Action ” is defined in Section 9(b) .
 
Affiliate ” means an individual or entity that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified individual or entity.  For purposes of this definition, “control” shall include, without limitation, the exertion of significant influence over an individual or entity and shall be conclusively presumed as to any fifty percent (50%) or greater equity interest.
 
Buyer ” is defined in the preamble hereof.
 
Cash Consideration ” is defined in Section 1(b) .
 
Charter Documents ” shall mean, as applicable, the specified entity’s (i) certificate of incorporation or formation or other charter or organizational documents, and (ii) bylaws or operating agreement, each as from time to time in effect.
 
Closing ” is defined in Section 1(c).
 
Closing Date ” is defined in Section 1(c).
 
Company ” is defined in the recitals hereto.
 
Encumbrance ” means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, mortgage, security interest, encumbrance, equity, trust, equitable interest, claim, preference, right of possession, lease, tenancy, license, encroachment, covenant, infringement, interference, Order, proxy, option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, community property interest, legend, defect, impediment, exception, reservation, limitation, impairment, imperfection of title, condition or restriction of any nature (including any restriction on the transfer of an asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income derived from an asset, any restriction on the use of any asset and any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of an asset) other than as provided in the LLC Agreement.
 
Indemnified Party ” means (a) Buyer, (b) Buyer’s current Affiliates; (c) the respective Representatives of the persons referred to in clauses (a), and (b); and the respective successors and assigns of the persons referred to in clauses (a), (b), and (c) above.
 
LLC  Agreement is defined in the recitals hereto.
 

 
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Loss ” shall include any loss, damage, injury, decline in value, liability, claim, demand, settlement, judgment, award, fine, penalty, tax, fee (including any legal fee, expert fee, accounting fee or advisory fee), charge, cost (including court costs and any cost of investigation) or expense of any nature.
 
Party ” or “ Parties ” means any of Seller and Buyer.
 
Person ” means any individual, person, limited liability company, partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, corporation, association, joint stock company, business, group, government, government agency or authority or other entity.
 
Representatives ” shall mean officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors and representatives.
 
Seller ” is defined in the preamble hereof.
 
Seller Units ” is defined in the preamble hereof.
 
Transaction ” is defined in Section 1(d) .
 
Transaction Documents ” is defined in Section 2(b) .
 
 “ Unit ” is defined in the recitals hereto.
 

 
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Exhibit B
 
Unit Transfer Certificate

 
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST ASSIGNMENT
SEPARATE FROM CERTIFICATE
 

 

 
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned does hereby sell, assign, and transfer unto ______________________________, a ___________________________, _________________ ( _____%) of the membership interest of ___________________________________, a ______________ limited liability company (the “Company”), standing in the name of the undersigned on the books of the Company [represented by Certificate No. ___ herewith] and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________________________ as attorney to transfer the said membership interest on the books of the Company with full power of substitution.
 
Effective date: ________________   ______________________________________
 

Date
By:
 

 
    Name:  
    Title:  
       

 

 
11



Exhibit 10.6
 
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT
 
This Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (together with the exhibits and schedules hereto, this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of September 27, 2010 by and among Pacific Ethanol California, Inc. , a California corporation (“ Seller ”) and Daniel A. Sanders (“ Buyer ”).
 
Recitals
 
Whereas, Seller owns 10,094,595 Class B Voting Units (the “ Membership Interests ”) of Front Range Energy, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company (the “ Company ”), which represents approximately 42% of the outstanding membership interests of the Company.
 
Whereas , the Company is engaged in the business (the “ Business ”) of operating an approximately 40 million gallon per year corn ethanol plant, providing management services to operate the corn ethanol plant and such other activities related to the foregoing.
 
Whereas ,   the Buyer desires to acquire from Seller, and Seller desires to sell and transfer to Buyer, all of the Membership Interests on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.
 
Agreement
 
Therefore , in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual agreements and covenants set forth below, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
 
ARTICLE 1
 
Definitions
 
Account ” means Seller’s Bank of America account #14998D25891 (Transit #121000358; Routing #11-35; Bank Branch # 1210-CA).
 
Affiliate ” means an individual or entity that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified individual or entity.  For purposes of this definition, “control” shall include, without limitation, the exertion of significant influence over an individual or entity and shall be conclusively presumed as to any fifty percent (50%) or greater equity interest.
 
Business ” is defined in the recitals hereto.
 
Buyer ” is defined in the preamble hereof and shall also include any Affiliate of Buyer that becomes an assignee of the Agreement pursuant to the terms of Section 10.3.
 
Charter Documents ” shall mean, as applicable, the specified entity’s (i) certificate of incorporation or formation or other charter or organizational documents, and (ii) bylaws or operating agreement, each as from time to time in effect.
 
Closing ” is defined in Section 3.2.
 
Closing Date ” is defined in Section 3.2.
 
Closing Notice ” is defined in Section 7.2.4.
 
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 
 

 

Company ” is defined in the recitals hereto.
 
Encumbrance ” means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, mortgage, security interest, encumbrance, equity, trust, equitable interest, claim, preference, right of possession, lease, tenancy, license, encroachment, covenant, infringement, interference, Order, proxy, option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, community property interest, legend, defect, impediment, exception, reservation, limitation, impairment, imperfection of title, condition or restriction of any nature (including any restriction on the transfer of an asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income derived from an asset, any restriction on the use of any asset and any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of an asset).
 
Indemnified Party ” means (a) Buyer, (b) the Company; (c) Buyer’s and the Company’s current and future Affiliates; (d) the respective Representatives of the persons referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c); and the respective successors and assigns of the persons referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above.
 
Loss ” shall include any loss, damage, injury, decline in value, Liability, claim, demand, settlement, judgment, award, fine, penalty, Tax, fee (including any legal fee, expert fee, accounting fee or advisory fee), charge, cost (including court costs and any cost of investigation) or expense of any nature.
 
Membership Interests ” is defined in the recitals hereto.
 
Membership Interest Certificates ” means the Certificate of Membership of Front Range Energy, LLC, #5, representing 10,094,595 Class B Voting Units of the Company.
 
Operating Agreement means the Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Front Range Energy, LLC, dated as of October 20, 2005.
 
Party ” or “ Parties ” means any of Seller and Buyer.
 
Person ” means any individual, person, limited liability company, partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, corporation, association, joint stock company, business, group, government, government agency or authority or other entity.
 
 “ Representatives ” shall mean officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors and representatives.
 
Seller ” is defined in the preamble hereof.
 
Tax ” means any foreign, federal, state, county or local income, sales and use, excise, franchise, real and personal property, transfer, gross receipt, capital stock, production, business and occupation, disability, employment, payroll, severance or withholding tax or charge imposed by any governmental entity, any interest and penalties (civil or criminal) related thereto or to the nonpayment thereof, and any Loss in connection with the determination, settlement or litigation of any Tax liability.
 
Transactions ” shall mean (a) the execution and delivery of the respective Transaction Documents; and (b) all of the transactions contemplated by the respective Transaction Documents, including (i) the sale of the Membership Interests by Seller to Buyer in accordance with this Agreement; and (ii) the performance by Seller and Buyer of their respective obligations under the Transaction Documents and the exercise by Seller and Buyer of their respective rights under the Transaction Documents.
 
Transaction Documents ” shall mean (a) the Agreement; and (b) the deliverables referred to in Sections 6.1 and 6.2.
 

 
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ARTICLE 2
 
Purchase And Sale of Membership Interests
 
2.1            Acquisition .   Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Buyer agrees to purchase, and Seller agrees to sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to Buyer, the Membership Interests, free and clear of all Encumbrances, on the Closing Date.
 
ARTICLE 3
 
Purchase Price
 
3.1            Purchase Price .   As consideration for the sale of the Membership Interests to Buyer at the Closing, Buyer shall pay to Seller, in cash, a total of $18,500,000 (the “ Cash Consideration ”) by wire transfer to the Account.
 
3.2            Closing .   The closing of the sale of the Membership Interests to Buyer (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at the offices of the Company on the date that all conditions to Closing set forth in Article 7 have been satisfied; provided, however , that Buyer shall not be obligated to close sooner than five (5) business days from the date the Seller gives the Closing Notice provided for in Section 7.2.4.  The date on which the Closing takes place shall be referred to as the “ Closing Date .”
 
ARTICLE 4
 
Seller’s Representations and Warranties
 
Seller represents and warrants to and for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties that:
 
4.1            Organization .   Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of California.  Seller is in good standing and qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in any state in which it is doing business.
 
4.2            Due Authorization; Enforceability .   The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which Seller is a party has been duly and validly authorized by Seller.  Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the same by Buyer, this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents to which Seller is a party constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with their respective terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws and equitable principles relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally).
 
4.3            Non-Contravention; Consents. Seller need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order to consummate the Transactions.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the Transactions, will directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):  (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Charter Documents of Seller; (ii) conflict with or violate any statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which Seller is subject; (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument or other arrangement to which Seller is a party or by which it is bound; or (iv) result in the imposition or creation of an Encumbrance upon the Membership Interests.
 

 
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4.4            Ownership of Membership Interests .   Seller is the unconditional and sole legal, beneficial, record and equitable owner of the Membership Interests, and Seller has full power and authority to sell and transfer the Membership Interests, free and clear of any restrictions on transfer or any other Encumbrances.  Seller has not ever sold, assigned transferred or otherwise disposed of all or any portion of the Membership Interests.  Seller’s ownership of the Membership Interests has been at all times conducted in accordance with applicable Law.  Seller is not a party to any option, warrant, purchase right, or other contract or commitment (other than this Agreement) that could require Seller to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any membership interests, or any voting or economic right therein, of the Company.  Seller is not a party to any voting trust, proxy, or other agreement or understanding with respect to the voting of any membership interests of the Company.  The Membership Interest Certificates represent all the Membership Interests.
 
4.5            Distributions .   Seller has no current outstanding obligation to return to the Company all or any portion of any distribution previously received from the Company in respect of the Membership Interests.
 
4.6            Brokers .   Seller has not agreed or become obligated to pay, or has taken any action that might result in any person, entity or governmental body claiming to be entitled to receive, any brokerage commission, finder’s fee or similar commission or fee in connection with any of the Transactions.
 
ARTICLE 5
 
Buyer’s Representations and Warranties
 
Buyer represents and warrants to Seller that:
 
5.1            Non-Contravention; Consents. Buyer need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order to consummate the Transactions.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the Transactions, will directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):  (i) conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the Charter Documents of Buyer; (ii) conflict with or violate any statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which Buyer is subject; or (iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument or other arrangement to which Buyer is a party or by which it is bound.
 
5.2            Brokers .   Buyer has not agreed or become obligated to pay, or has taken any action that might result in any person, entity or governmental body claiming to be entitled to receive, any brokerage commission, finder’s fee or similar commission or fee in connection with any of the Transactions.
 
5.3            Investment Intent .   Buyer   is acquiring the Membership Interests for its own account for investment purposes only and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof, in whole or in part.   For the avoidance of doubt,  the foregoing is not intended to impair or restrict the ability of the Seller to make transfers in accordance with Section 8.2 of the Operating Agreement .
 
ARTICLE 6
 
Closing Deliverables
 
6.1             Deliverables by Seller .   At the Closing, Seller shall deliver the following to Buyer:
 
6.1.1           a certificate from Seller certifying that (i) each of the representations and warranties made by Seller in this Agreement is true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) each of the covenants and agreement that Seller is required to have complied with or performed pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing has been duly complied with and performed in all respects;
 

 
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6.1.2           the Membership Interest Certificates, duly endorsed (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers); and
 
6.1.3           such instruments of assumption and other documents or instruments as Buyer reasonably may request to effect the Transactions.
 
6.2            Closing Deliverables by Buyer .   At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver the following to Seller:
 
6.2.1           a certificate from Buyer certifying that (i) each of the representations and warranties made by Buyer in this Agreement is true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) each of the covenants and obligations that Buyer is required to have complied with or performed pursuant to this Agreement at or prior to the Closing has been duly complied with and performed in all respects; and
 
6.2.2           the Cash Consideration.
 
ARTICLE 7
 
Closing Conditions
 
7.1             Conditions to Buyer’s Obligations .   The obligation of Buyer to close the Transactions is subject to the satisfaction, at or before October 29, 2010, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for Buyer’s sole benefit and may be waived by Buyer at any time in its sole discretion:
 
7.1.1           Seller shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same Buyer;
 
7.1.2           Seller shall have delivered to Buyer the Membership Interest Certificates, duly endorsed (or accompanied by duly executed stock powers);
 
7.1.3           The representations and warranties of Seller shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date), and Seller shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by Seller at or prior to the Closing Date; and
 
7.1.4           Seller shall have delivered to Buyer the Closing Notice provided for in Section 7.2.4.
 
7.2             Conditions to Seller’s Obligations .   The obligation of Seller to close the Transactions is subject to the satisfaction, at or before October 29, 2010, of each of the following conditions, provided that these conditions are for Seller’s  sole benefit and may be waived by Seller at any time in its sole discretion:
 
7.2.1           Buyer shall have executed each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and delivered the same Buyer;
 
7.2.2           Buyer shall have delivered to the Account the Cash Consideration by wire transfer of immediately available funds;
 
7.2.3           The representations and warranties of Buyer shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date when made and as of the Closing Date as though originally made at that time (except for representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such specific date), and Buyer shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with the covenants, agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by Buyer at or prior to the Closing Date;
 

 
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7.2.4           Seller shall have closed on a convertible note financing in the amount of approximately $35 million.  At such time as this condition is fulfilled or waived by Seller, Seller shall give written notice to Buyer (the “ Closing Notice ”).   The giving of the Closing Notice shall constitute an irrevocable waiver of the condition set forth in the first sentence of this Section 7.2.4 .
 
ARTICLE 8
 
Indemnification
 
8.1            Survival of Representations and Covenants.
 
8.1.1           The covenants and agreements of each Party shall survive the Closing as of the Transactions for the periods specified in such covenants and agreements, or if no period is specified, until the fourth anniversary of the Closing.
 
8.1.2           The representations, warranties, covenants and obligations of Seller and the rights and remedies that may be exercised by any Indemnified Party shall not be limited or otherwise affected by or as a result of any information furnished to, or any investigation made by or any knowledge of, any of the Indemnified Parties or any of their Representatives.
 
8.1.3           The representations and warranties of Seller contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall expire on the six month anniversary of the Closing; provided, however, that the foregoing expiration date shall not apply to (i) claims based on fraud, intentional misrepresentation or willful breach which shall survive for the applicable statute of limitations and (ii) claims related to breaches of the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.1   (Organization), Section 4.2 (Due Authorization; Enforceability) and Section   4.4 (Ownership of Membership Interests), which shall survive until the fourth anniversary of the Closing; provided further, however, that if Buyer notifies Seller of a claim specifying the factual basis of that claim in reasonable detail to the extent then known by Buyer on or prior to the applicable expiration date, then such representation or warranty shall not so expire, but rather shall remain in full force and effect until such time as such claim has been fully and finally resolved, either by means of a written settlement agreement or by means of a final, non-appealable judgment issued by a court of competent jurisdiction.
 
8.1.4           The representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement shall survive until the fourth anniversary of the Closing.
 
8.2            Indemnification by Seller.   Seller shall hold harmless and indemnify each of the Indemnified Parties from and against, and shall compensate and reimburse each of the Indemnified Parties for, any Losses that are directly or indirectly suffered or incurred by any of the Indemnified Parties or to which any of the Indemnified Parties may otherwise become subject at any time (regardless of whether or not such Losses relate to any third-party claim) and that arise directly or indirectly from or as a direct or indirect result of, or are directly or indirectly connected with:
 
8.2.1           any breach by Seller or of any representation or warranty of Seller contained in this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or in any certificate delivered by pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document;
 
8.2.2           any breach of any covenant or agreement of Seller contained in this Agreement or any other Transaction Document; or
 
8.2.3           any liability of Seller.

 
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ARTICLE 9
 
Additional Agreements
 
9.1            Further Assurances.   Each Party shall execute and deliver such further documents and instruments and to take such further actions after the Closing as may be necessary or desirable and reasonably requested by the other Party to give effect to the Transactions.
 
9.2            Expenses; Attorneys’ Fees.   Each Party shall bear and pay all fees, costs and expenses that have been incurred or that are in the future incurred by, on behalf of, such Party in connection with the negotiation, preparation and review of this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents and all certificates, opinions and other instruments and documents delivered or to be delivered in connection with the Transactions, and the consummation and performance of the Transactions.  If a Party shall bring any action, suit, counterclaim, appeal, arbitration, or mediation for any relief against the other Party, declaratory or otherwise, to enforce the terms hereof or to declare rights hereunder (referred to herein as an “ Action ”), the non-prevailing party in such Action shall pay to the prevailing party in such Action a reasonable sum for the prevailing party’s attorneys’ fees and expenses.
 
9.3            Confidentiality.   Seller shall continue to comply with the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 6.14 of the Operating Agreement, which are incorporated herein by this reference.
 
9.4            Reporting Compliance. Buyer shall cause the Company to continue to comply with the provisions of Schedule A, paragraph 1 of the letter agreement dated October 17, 2006, among the Company, Seller and ICM, Inc. (the “ Implementation Agreement ”), which are incorporated herein by this reference.  A copy of the Implementation Agreement is attached for reference as Exhibit A .
 
9.5            Tax Matters.
 
9.5.1            Allocation of Company Tax Items.  All items of Company income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit attributable to the Membership Interests for the taxable year of the Closing shall be allocated between Buyer and Seller based on a closing of the Company’s books as of the close of business on the Closing Date.  The allocation shall be determined by the Company in good faith, in accordance with past practices of the Company, and consistent with the Tax returns of the Company filed prior to the Closing Date (unless otherwise required by applicable law).
 
9.5.2            Purchase Price Allocation.   Within 60 days after Closing, Buyer shall deliver to Seller a draft allocation of Seller’s amount realized (including the Cash Consideration and Seller’s share of the liabilities of the Company determined pursuant to Code § 752) among the “unrealized receivables” and the “inventory items” of the Company.  Seller shall have 30 days to review and comment on the draft allocation.  The allocation shall be subject to the approval of Seller, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.  The final allocations determined in accordance with this Section 9.5.2 shall be binding on Buyer and Seller for tax purposes, and neither Buyer nor Seller shall take any position, whether in any tax return, tax audit or otherwise, that is inconsistent with such allocations.
 
9.5.3            Capital Account.   Seller shall receive no further distributions from the Company.  Buyer shall succeed to the entire Capital Account of Seller attributable to the Membership Interests.
 
9.5.4            Sales Taxes .   Buyer shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify Seller against, any sales taxes, use taxes, transfer taxes, documentary charges, recording fees or similar taxes, charges, fees or expenses, to the extent levied by the State of California as a result of the consummation of the Transactions.  Seller shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify Buyer against, any sales taxes, use taxes, transfer taxes, documentary charges, recording fees or similar taxes, charges, fees or expenses, to the extent levied by the State of Colorado as a result of the consummation of the Transactions.
 

 
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ARTICLE 10
 
Miscellaneous
 
10.1            Amendment and Waiver .   This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or supplemented other than by means of a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of Buyer and Seller.
 
10.2            Notices.   All notices, demands and other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given when personally delivered, when mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, when sent by facsimile with confirmation of receipt received, or when delivered by overnight courier with executed receipt.  Notices, demands and communications to Seller or Buyer shall, unless another address is specified in writing in accordance herewith, be sent to the address indicated below:
 
Notices to Seller:
Pacific Ethanol California, Inc.
 
400 Capitol Mall
 
Suite 2060
 
Sacramento, CA  95814
 
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
 
Tel: (916) 403-2123
 
Fax: (916) 446-3937
   
with copies to:
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
 
400 Capitol Mall
 
Suite 2060
 
Sacramento, CA  95814
 
Attn: General Counsel
 
Tel: (916) 403-2130
 
Fax: (916) 446-3936
   
Notices to Buyer: 
Daniel A. Sanders
 
31375 Great Western Drive
 
Windsor, CO 80550
 
Tel: (970) 674-2910    
 
Fax: (503) 661-7753
   
with copies to: 
Stoel Rives, LLP 
 
101 S. Capitol Boulevard
 
Suite 1900
 
Boise, Idaho 83702
 
Attn: John M. Eustermann, Esq.
 
Tel: (208) 389-9000
 
Fax: (208) 389-9040

10.3            Assignment .   This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assignable by either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party; provided, however , that Buyer may assign in whole its right, title and interest under this Agreement to any Affiliate.
 

 
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10.4            Captions .   The captions used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit, characterize or in any way affect any provision of this Agreement, and all provisions of this Agreement shall be enforced and construed as if no caption had been used in this Agreement.
 
10.5            Complete Agreement; Schedules And Exhibits .   Each schedule and exhibit delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall constitute a part of this Agreement, although schedules need not be attached to each copy of this Agreement.  This Agreement, together with such schedules and exhibits, and the documents referred to herein contain the complete agreement between the Parties and supersede any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the Parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.
 
10.6            Governing Law; Venue.
 
10.6.1           The laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to conflict of law doctrines, govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement and the performance of the obligations imposed by this Agreement.
 
10.6.2           Any legal action or other legal proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement may be brought or otherwise commenced in any state or federal court located in the County of Denver, Colorado.  Each party to this Agreement:
 
10.6.2.1            expressly and irrevocably consents and submits to the jurisdiction of each state and federal court located in the County of Denver, Colorado (and each appellate court located in the State of Colorado) in connection with any such legal proceeding;
 
10.6.2.2            agrees that each state and federal court located in the County of Denver, Colorado shall be deemed to be a convenient forum; and
 
10.6.2.3            agrees not to assert (by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise), in any such legal proceeding commenced in any state or federal court located in the County of Denver, Colorado, any claim that such party is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of such court, that such legal proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of such proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement may not be enforced in or by such court.
 
10.7            Counterparts .   This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Documents will be deemed as originals if received by facsimile copy.
 
10.8            Third Party Beneficiaries .   Nothing in this Agreement is intended or will be construed to entitle any person or entity, other than Buyer and Seller or their respective permitted transferees and assigns, to any claim, cause of action, remedy or right of any kind.
 
10.9            Severability .   The validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected even if one or more of the provisions of this Agreement will be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect.
 
<Remainder of page intentionally left blank.  Signature Page to Follow>
 
 
 
 

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be duly executed by duly authorized individuals as of the date hereof.
 
 
Buyer:
 
     
 
Daniel A. Sanders,
 
     
     
 
/s/ Daniel A. Sanders

Signature: Daniel A. Sanders
 
 
 
  Seller:  
       
  Pacific Ethanol California, Inc.,  
  a Delaware corporation  
       
       
  By:
/s/ Neil M. Koehler

 
   
Name:  Neil M. Koehler
 
    Title:    Chief Executive Officer  
 
 
 
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Exhibit A
 
Implementation Agreement

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Exhibit A


Exhibit 99.1

 
IR Agency Contact:
Company IR Contact
Media Contact:
Kirsten Chapman/ Rebecca Herrick
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
Paul Koehler
Lippert / Heilshorn & Assoc.
916-403-2755
Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
415-433-3777
866-508-4969
503-235-8241
Investorrelations@pacificethanol.net
paulk@pacificethanol.net

 
PACIFIC ETHANOL, INC. SIGNS DEFINITIVE AGREEMENTS TO RAISE $53.5 MILLION TO PURCHASE 20% OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN PLANTS AND RETIRE CORPORATE DEBT
 
·
Enters into agreement to raise $35.0 million through issuance of senior convertible notes
 
·
Enters into agreement to sell ownership interest in Front Range Energy, LLC for $18.5 million
 
·
Enters into agreements to purchase 20% ownership interest in plants for $23.3 million
 
·
Intends to retire $17.0 million in corporate debt, including interest and fees
 
·
Expects to increase cash reserves by $10.0 million
 
·
To hold investor call today September 28, 5:30 AM PT/8:30 ET to discuss transactions
 
Sacramento, CA, September 28, 2010 – Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEI, NASDAQ CM: PEIX) ,   the leading West Coast marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels, announced today several transactions intended to further improve the company’s balance sheet and position the company for continued growth in the ethanol industry. On September 27, 2010, PEI entered into agreements to issue senior convertible notes (Notes) in the aggregate principal amount of $35.0 million to institutional investors, which agreements are expected to close on or prior to October 11, 2010. In addition, on September 27, 2010, PEI signed an agreement to sell its minority ownership interest in Front Range Energy, LLC for $18.5 million in cash that is expected to close coincident with the closing of the issuance of the Notes. Total gross proceeds from these two transactions are expected to be $53.5 million. On September 28, 2010, PEI entered into agreements to purchase for $23.3 million a 20% ownership interest in New PE Holdco LLC (New PEH), which is the owner of PEI’s previously-owned four ethanol production facilities. As a result, PEI will hold the largest equity ownership position in New PEH. Further, PEI intends to retire $17.0 million in corporate debt, accrued interest and fees owed to Lyles United LLC and Lyles Mechanical Co. (Lyles). The balance of the proceeds is expected to pay transaction fees and to provide approximately $10.0 million of cash reserves to PEI’s balance sheet.


 
 

 
 
 
Neil Koehler, PEI’s president and CEO, stated, “These transactions represent a significant step forward for PEI as we complete our restructuring and improve our balance sheet. We are reinvesting in the ownership of core assets at a time when plant valuations offer considerable upside potential, as evidenced by the price we received from the sale of our interest in Front Range. We believe these transactions best enable us to continue our mission and leadership as the leading West Coast marketer and producer of low carbon renewable fuels, and will drive our growth strategy. We are focused on an immediate plan to restart the Stockton, California plant to meet the growing demand for ethanol and realize the high value of California produced ethanol. With our improved financial position, additional working capital, the integration of marketing, asset management, and plant ownership, together with efficient operations, we are well positioned for profitable growth.”

PEI has also filed a Current Report on Form 8-K today with the Securities and Exchange Commission that provides further details of the transactions described above and further summarized below.

Senior Convertible Notes and Warrants
PEI has signed definitive agreements, conditioned on the simultaneous closing of the other transactions described in this press release and other customary closing conditions, to issue Notes for cash in the aggregate principal amount of $35.0 million. The Notes will have a term of 15 months, bear interest at the rate of 8% per annum and will contain other terms that are consistent with the terms approved by PEI’s stockholders at its annual meeting held on June 3, 2010. In connection with the issuance of the Notes, PEI will issue seven-year warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 20.6 million shares of its common stock . PEI expects to close the offering of the Notes and warrants on or prior to October 11, 2010, subject to the satisfaction of various customary closing conditions. PEI expects that the net proceeds from the offering will be approximately $32.0 million, after deducting estimated fees and expenses of the offering. Lazard Capital Markets LLC acted as the exclusive placement agent for this transaction.

Sale of Minority Ownership of Front Range
PEI signed a definitive agreement with the majority owner for the sale of its 42% interest in Front Range Energy, LLC, a 48 million gallon per year ethanol production facility located in Windsor, Colorado, for $18.5 million in cash. The sale is anticipated to close on or prior to October 11, 2010, subject to customary closing conditions.


 
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Purchase of Ownership in Plants
As part of PEI’s plan of reorganization following its emergence from bankruptcy on June 29, 2010, the ownership of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pacific Ethanol Holding Co. LLC (PEH), together with PEH’s four wholly-owned ethanol production facilities with a combined annual capacity of 200 million gallons was transferred to a newly formed holding company, New PEH. As announced on June 29, 2010, PEI had an exclusive option to purchase up to a 25% equity interest in New PEH for up to $30 million in cash. PEI exercised its option and entered into a separate agreement to acquire ownership interests. PEI will pay $23.3 million in the aggregate for a 20% interest. As a result, PEI will hold the largest equity ownership interest in New PEH.

Retirement of Corporate Debt
With the proceeds of the sale of PEI’s interest in Front Range Energy, LLC, PEI will retire all of its corporate debt obligations to Lyles, including accrued interest and fees, in the aggregate amount of approximately $17.0 million. PEI has been in default under these obligations since 2009.

Investor Conference Call
Management will host a conference call to discuss these transactions at 5:30 AM PT/8:30 AM ET today, Tuesday, September 28, 2010. To listen to the conference call, dial (877) 847-6066 in the US or 00-1-(970) 315 - 0267 internationally. The access code is 14513448#. A telephonic replay will be available beginning at 11:30 AM ET on Tuesday, September 28 th through Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. ET. To access the replay, US callers may dial (800) 642-1687 and international callers may dial 00-1-(706) 645-9291. The pass code will be 14513448#. In addition, the call can be accessed via webcast on the “Investors” section of www.pacificethanol.net where it will be archived for one year.


 
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About Pacific Ethanol, Inc.
Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (NASDAQ CM: PEIX) is the leading West Coast marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels. Pacific Ethanol also sells co-products, including wet distillers grain, or WDG, which is a highly valuable nutritional animal feed. Serving integrated oil companies and gasoline marketers who blend ethanol into gasoline, Pacific Ethanol provides transportation, storage and delivery of ethanol through third-party service providers in the Western United States, primarily in California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho and Washington. Management seeks to choose destination plants with optimal distribution criteria for ethanol and co-products and currently manages two operating plants in Oregon and Idaho as well as two idled facilities in California. Pacific Ethanol’s subsidiary, Kinergy Marketing LLC, markets ethanol from Pacific Ethanol’s managed plants and from other third-party production facilities, and another subsidiary, Pacific Ag. Products, LLC, markets WDG. For more information please visit www.pacificethanol.net .


Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in this press release including, without limitation:  the ability of Pacific Ethanol to continue as the leading West Coast marketer and producer of low-carbon renewable fuels; the ability of Pacific Ethanol to resume production at the Stockton, California plant, which is at the discretion of the board of directors of New PEH, and to realize a premium on the sale of California-produced ethanol; the ability of Pacific Ethanol to successfully staff, manage and operate the four ethanol production facilities; the ability of the Company to retain an adequate working capital reserve and the other improvements in its financial position sought in connection with the transactions described herein; the ability of Pacific Ethanol to grow its business, generate revenue and earnings growth and demonstrate the benefits of the Company’s destination business model; and the ability of the Company to realize appreciation on its investment in New PEH; are forward-looking statements and considerations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual future results of Pacific Ethanol could differ from those statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to the ability of Pacific Ethanol to meet all closing contingencies and close the transactions described in this release and those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section contained in Pacific Ethanol’s most recent Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 2010, and its Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2010.


 
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